Bitcoin Cash, the usability-focused Bitcoin hard fork, is preparing to perform a blockchain-wide upgrade slated to happen on May 15th. The upgrade implements the adaptive blocksize limit algorithm, allowing the network to adapt to future increases in demand without having direct input from actors, avoiding the opportunity for social attacks. Bitcoin Cash to Include Adaptative […]
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Stacks Launches Nakamoto Upgrade to Enhance Bitcoin L2 Functionality
Stacks has initiated the rollout of its Nakamoto upgrade introducing improvements to its Bitcoin layer two (L2) solution. The upgrade aims to bolster transaction speed and security, potentially revitalizing interest in Bitcoin’s extended capabilities. Stacks Initiates Nakamoto Upgrade, Targets Enhanced Bitcoin Scalability Stacks, an L2 protocol addressing Bitcoin’s scalability challenges and expanding its blockchain functionalities, […]
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Polkadot Unveils Major Upgrade Plan: Relay Chain Replacement And 10M DOT Prize Incentive
Gavin Wood, the founder of the Polkadot protocol, has unveiled a new Gray Paper outlining the forthcoming Join-Accumulate Machine (JAM) upgrade for the network. This announcement occurred during Wood’s presentation on Polkadot’s future at the Token2049 crypto conference in Dubai.
Wood introduced the JAM Implementer’s Prize, a 10 Million DOT prize pool, to encourage diverse development of the JAM protocol.
Polkadot Unveils JAM Upgrade
According to the announcement, the JAM upgrade aims to replace the relay chain, which acts as the central data chain in the Polkadot network, with a “more modular and minimalist design” that will allow Polkadot to run generic services and increase network stability.
The parachains service within JAM will support existing Substrate-based parachains, enabling developers to continue using Substrate to develop and deploy their blockchains.
Notably, these services will have no predefined limits on code, data, or state capacity and can accommodate additional DOT deposits for increased capacity.
JAM’s design includes several technical improvements. It replaces WebAssembly with the Polkadot Virtual Machine based on the RISC-V ISA, an open-source instruction set architecture (ISA) used to develop custom processors.
It also introduces SAFROLE, a SNARK-based block production algorithm. These upgrades are reportedly designed to optimize performance and scalability within the Polkadot network.
On The Path To Decentralization?
To realize the vision of “a truly decentralized protocol,” Polkadot aims to support multiple client implementations. Furthermore, the JAM Implementer’s prize has been established to incentivize and fund projects contributing to the development of JAM implementations. The announcement further reads on the matter:
We believe that supporting a range of implementations in various programming languages will strengthen the ecosystem’s foundation. It distributes the power of protocol implementers more widely and reduces the risk of a bug in one implementation taking down the entire network.
The JAM Implementer’s Prize will collaborate with existing and future funding initiatives that support Polkadot’s ecosystem and technology stack. These initiatives include Decentralized Futures, Grants, and Polkadot’s on-chain treasury.
The prize will be activated when JAM is ratified as a Polkadot technology through the network’s on-chain governance mechanism.
Overall, Gavin Wood’s introduction of the JAM upgrade and the associated 10 Million DOT prize reflects Polkadot’s intention to increase the protocol’s use and adoption. JAM’s modular design and incentives for multi-client implementations are also expected to contribute to ongoing efforts to decentralize the Polkadot network.
As JAM development continues, the Polkadot ecosystem welcomes proposals from teams interested in implementing it in various programming environments.
Despite the recent announcement, the network’s native token, DOT, has been unable to break the downtrend witnessed over the past month. Currently trading at .75, it reflects a significant 24% decline in price over the last 30 days.
Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com
Injective Votes On Major Upgrade To Make INJ Even More Deflationary: Will Prices Recover?
Injective Protocol, a blockchain for decentralized finance (DeFi) and derivatives trading, is voting on a proposal to significantly reshape the platform’s tokenomics and introduce a new era dubbed Injective 3.0.
According to Injective, through a post on April 19, the proposal is now open for voting via the Injective Hub. For the next four days, stakers and validators are free to participate.
Community Voting On Injective 3.0
Over the months since launching in 2023, Injective caught the crypto community’s attention. The team aims to launch a platform for users to launch DeFi-focused protocols in a low-cost, scalable, and yet Ethereum-compatible environment. Though INJ, the native currency of the platform, remains one of the top performers, changes introduced by Injective 3.0 will likely push prices even higher.
According to developers, Injective 3.0 aims to make INJ a deflationary asset. A big part of this will be to reduce token minting by controlling the rate of token creation. If the community approves what’s laid out in the proposal, the team will change on-chain parameters to slow down token minting.
At the same time, Injective 3.0 plans to make INJ’s inflation rate more responsive to staking. Under this model, inflation will slow down as more INJ is locked away via staking, making the coin scarcer.
Proposers predict the network to be more robust and secure if INJ becomes more deflationary. Usually, token prices of scarce assets tend to be higher. However, it should be noted that changes to tokenomics don’t immediately lead to favorable price repricing. For prices to soar, there must be utility, driven mainly by community interest.
Millions Of INJ Burned, Will Prices Break ?
Injective 2.0 is currently live following its activation in August 2023. Under the current regime, there is a token auction burn, where decentralized applications (dapps) running on the platform are free to participate in token burning. According to the Injective Protocol, over 5.9 million INJ have been withdrawn.
So far, INJ remains under pressure, sliding down, shedding 50% from March 2024 highs. The coin has been moving horizontally in the past few trading sessions. However, it is under immense selling and within the April 12 bear bar.
The level at is a crucial resistance level. Conversely, if INJ prices dip below this week’s lows at , the coin will slip towards April 13 lows of around .
Cleanspark to Upgrade Mining Fleet With 100,000 S21 Pro Bitcoin Miners From Bitmain
The publicly traded bitcoin mining company Cleanspark has exercised its option to acquire 100,000 bitcoin mining machines from Bitmain. The firm initially secured the option last year, and the agreement has now been enhanced to include the latest S21 Pro model from Bitmain, which offers 15 joules per terahash (J/T). Bitmain and Cleanspark Seal Deal […]
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Bitcoin Cash Undergoes Halving Event, Sets Stage for May Upgrade
The Bitcoin Cash network has witnessed its halving event at block height 840,000, leading to a reduction in the miner reward to 3.125 coins per block from the previous 6.25 coins. Miner Rewards Halved on Bitcoin Cash Network The latest block data reveals that the Bitcoin Cash (BCH) network has undergone its anticipated reward-halving event. […]
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Bitcoin Cash Rallies Ahead of Upcoming Halving and Upgrade
The Bitcoin Cash network stands on the brink of its forthcoming halving event, set to take place a week from now. This milestone will see mining rewards on the network notably reduced from their current levels. Currently, Bitcoin Cash ranks as the 15th largest by market capitalization among over 10,000 cryptocurrencies, having risen 91% against […]
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BNB Price Soars As Binance Smart Chain Implements “BEP 336” Upgrade, Inspired By Ethereum’s Dencun
Binance Smart Chain (BSC), commonly known as BNB Chain, has announced the “BEP 336 upgrade”, inspired by Ethereum’s Dencun upgrade (EIP 4844), which aims to optimize data storage and processing on the blockchain.
The upgrade is expected to significantly reduce transaction costs, improve network performance, and drive the price of Binance Coin (BNB) towards its previous all-time high (ATH) of 6, reached in May 2021.
BNB Smart Chain Cost-Effective Data Solution
According to the protocol’s announcement, BEP 336 introduces an innovative concept called “Blob-Carrying Transactions” (BlobTx) that will change how large data blocks are handled.
These temporary and cost-effective memory segments, known as blobs, can capture data blocks as large as 128 KB. By streamlining the transaction verification process, the network only needs to verify that the attached blob contains the correct data rather than verifying each transaction within a block.
The introduction of blob transactions within the BSC, which is particularly beneficial for opBNB – the layer 2 network of the BNB ecosystem – offers several advantages. Blobs reduce network space consumption, resulting in lower storage costs and more affordable gas fees for users, similar to Etherem’s Dencun upgrade. This storage strategy allows for efficient data handling while managing blockchain bloat, ensuring data integrity and availability throughout its lifetime on the chain.
BEP 336 also includes two additional components. The Blob Market establishes a fee market for blobs, ensuring regulated storage and transmission costs based on network demand. The Precompile Contract adds a layer of security by verifying that the data in a blob matches the reference in the blob-bearing transaction.
While BEP 336 draws inspiration from Ethereum’s EIP 4844, it is tailored to meet BSC’s unique requirements. Notably, BSC’s design mandates that blobs be managed exclusively by the BSC client, distinguishing it from Ethereum’s approach. Moreover, BSC implements a dynamic gas pricing mechanism for blobs, ensuring reasonable transaction costs with minimum and maximum thresholds.
BEP 336 Integration With Phased Roadmap
BSC has outlined a phased roadmap for the integration of BEP 336. Beginning with the Testnet launch in April, developers can test and interact with the upgrade in a “controlled environment” to address potential issues.
The subsequent Magnet phase in May will focus on further testing and optimization to ensure the “robustness” and “scalability” of BEP 336. Finally, in June, the mainnet hard fork will mark the official deployment of BEP 336 on the BSC mainnet, ushering in a new era of efficiency and cost-effectiveness for the network.
According to the announcement, the benefits of BEP 336 are expected to impact developers and users within the BSC ecosystem significantly. Gas fees will be reduced considerably as certain data types no longer require permanent storage, making transactions more affordable.
The temporary storage mechanism will keep the blockchain lean and bloat-free, enhancing overall network performance. With lower costs and improved efficiency, BEP 336 aims to make the BSC ecosystem more accessible to a wider audience, including developers and newcomers to blockchain technology.
The announcement has boosted Binance Coin’s (BNB) price by over 8%, resulting in a current trading price of 8, just 15% below its all-time high of 6.
In case of further price gains, the next resistance walls for the BNB price are placed at the 0 level and the 8 mark, which could prevent the token from further price appreciation in its mission to reach its current ATH.
Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com
Market Alert: Ethereum Faces Potential Downfall As Dencun Upgrade Looms – Here’s Why
Ethereum (ETH) is poised for a notable improvement with the impending Dencun upgrade to enhance the network’s scalability. However, amidst this anticipation, QCP Capital, a seasoned crypto asset trading firm, has shed light on an emerging trend that might influence Ethereum’s price trajectory.
The firm’s analysis reveals a shift in “risk reversals” for Ethereum, turning negative for upcoming expiries. This shift indicates growing concerns among investors about a potential decrease in ETH’s price, as a negative risk reversal often suggests a market leaning towards protective measures against a downturn.
Market Leverage And Correction Concerns
Notably, this trend towards negative risk reversals has been attributed to an increased interest in put options, which serve as a hedge against potential losses for those speculating on price increases.
Moreover, the broader altcoin market participants are similarly hedging their investments in Ethereum, aiming to mitigate risks associated with their altcoin holdings.
QCP Capital’s insights into the market dynamics also highlight an underlying nervousness about Ethereum’s price stability, especially in light of the considerable leverage within the market.
The firm cautions about the potential for a market correction, albeit with an expectation of strong buying interest in the event of any price dips. QCP noted in the report:
Altcoin speculators might also be buying ETH puts as a proxy to hedge altcoin downside. This makes us wary of a possible correction given the amount of leverage in the market. However, we think that the market will buy any dip aggressively.
Additionally, Ethereum’s spot-forward spreads have decreased slightly, contrasting with Bitcoin’s sustained high spreads. Commenting on the implication for investors, QCP Capital stated:
A sharp drop in spot price is likely to drag the forward spreads lower as leverage longs get taken out.
Ethereum Performance And Outlook
Despite the cautionary signals, Ethereum continues to perform “robustly” in the crypto market, closely trailing Bitcoin regarding price movements. Currently trading above ,000, Ethereum has witnessed a modest increase of 0.6% over the past 24 hours.
Moreover, data from IntoTheBlock (ITB) reveals an encouraging statistic: over 94% of ETH addresses are presently profitable, suggesting a strong holding pattern among investors and a reduced likelihood of selling pressure. This scenario could potentially set the stage for a price uptick.
However, it’s important to note that Ethereum’s growth trajectory, while positive, has not mirrored the notable surge Bitcoin experienced following the approval of its spot Exchange-Traded Fund, indicating a more measured pace of appreciation for ETH.
Featured image from Unsplash, Chart from TradingView
‘Dencun’ Upgrade Officially Deployed On Ethereum Mainnet, ETH Price Holds Steady Below $4,000
Ethereum (ETH) has completed a major software upgrade, Dencun, that promises to make utilizing the network ecosystem more cost-effective. This update specifically targets Layer 2 (L2) networks, such as Arbitrum (ARB), Polygon (MATIC), and Coinbase’s Base, which are interconnected with Ethereum.
With Dencun, transaction costs on these networks have significantly decreased, with fees dropping from dollars to cents or even fractions of a cent.
Ethereum Dencun Upgrade And Cost Savings
Considered the most significant change in Ethereum’s end-user experience, the Dencun upgrade is expected to foster the development of new applications and services by significantly reducing expenses.
As NewsBTC reported on Tuesday, the update introduces a new data storage system, departing from the traditional approach of storing Layer 2 data on Ethereum itself. Adopting a new “blobs” repository reduces data storage costs since information is warehoused for only about 18 days instead of indefinitely.
One of the notable benefits of the Dencun upgrade lies in its impact on decentralized exchanges (DEXs) and gas costs. For instance, projected gas costs for popular Layer 2 networks, such as Arbitrum, Optimism, and Coinbase’s Base, are set to be significantly reduced.
The projected savings translate into a reduction of Arbitrum’s swaps from .02 to .40, Optimism’s swaps from .42 to .28, and Coinbase’s Base swaps from .58 to .01, emphasizing the pivotal role of this upgrade.
As the upgrade was successfully launched on the mainnet, Tim Beiko, Ethereum Foundation core developer, expressed his satisfaction with the work accomplished and claimed:
Dencun is both the most complex fork we’ve shipped since the Merge, and tied for “most total EIPs in a fork” with Byzantium. There were more teams than ever involved in the process, and it somehow all worked out smoothly…! Grateful to work with all of them, onto the next one.
Blob Transactions And Pricing Changes
Layer 2 network Arbitrum has provided insights into the upgrade process. It will take around one to two hours for blob transactions to commence posting and for the new pricing changes specified by EIP-4844 to come into effect.
ArbOS Atlas, an upgrade that supports Arbitrum Chains, will introduce further fee reductions for Arbitrum One, set to be activated on March 18th. The updated configurations include a reduction in the Layer 1 (L1) surplus fee from 32 gwei to 0 per compressed byte and a reduction in the L2 base fee from 0.1 gwei to 0.01 gwei.
The Dencun upgrade unlocks cost-saving opportunities for Layer 2 networks and addresses congestion concerns by freeing up more space on the Ethereum network for additional transactions. While the upgrade offers enhanced efficiency, it does come at the cost of no longer retaining a complete record of all data indefinitely.
However, as Layer 2 networks embrace this new update to the Ethereum ecosystem, the stage is set for accelerated adoption, usage, and broader accessibility within the Ethereum community and its underlying protocols.
Dencun Upgrade Fails To Propel ETH Above ,000
Despite the successful upgrade, ETH’s price remains unaffected, continuing to consolidate below the ,000 threshold. The token attempted to surpass this crucial resistance level on Monday and Tuesday but failed to sustain its position above it.
For over 24 hours now, ETH has been trading between ,930 and ,970. Nevertheless, it’s worth noting that ETH has maintained its upward momentum, with gains exceeding 18% over the past fourteen days and nearly 60% over the past thirty days.
Additionally, introducing the Dencun upgrade is expected to drive increased demand for ETH, potentially sparking a renewed uptrend that could bridge the gap between current trading prices and its previous all-time high (ATH) of ,878, achieved in November 2021.
Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com