Bitcoin, the pioneer of blockchain technology, has faced challenges as its adoption has grown. With its original design allowing only seven transactions per second, the network often struggles with scalability, leading to high fees and slower transaction times. To address these issues, Bitcoin layer two (L2) solutions have emerged. These projects aim to enhance the […]
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Lightspark CEO David Marcus: Lightning Network Will Become the World’s ‘Interoperability Neutral Settlement Layer’
David Marcus, CEO of Lightspark, a company that offers lightning network (LN) related services, has stated that LN will become the “interoperability neutral settlement layer” for the world. Marcus declared that only Bitcoin is “neutral enough” to be implemented as the enabler between national payment systems, granting companies and institutions adopting it an edge for […]
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Optimism Stack Update: OP to Support Layer Three With Funding, Features, and Revenue Sharing
Ethereum scaling solution provider Optimism announced plans to enhance blockchain throughput by integrating Layer three applications on top of its OP Stack, aiming to foster a Superchain network where Layer threes can build and share revenue with the Optimism Collective. The OP Stack, an open standard codebase, extends its utility beyond Layer two deployers to […]
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Merlin Chain Launches MERL: A Major Leap Forward in Bitcoin Layer 2 Solutions
PRESS RELEASE. April 19th, 2024 — Merlin Chain, the largest Bitcoin Layer 2 protocol by total value locked (TVL), is thrilled to announce the launch of its native token, $MERL. As a significant enhancement to the Bitcoin network, Merlin Chain facilitates the rapid growth of decentralized applications (DApps) across various sectors, including decentralized finance (DeFi), […]
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Aligned Layer Secures $2.6M in Funding to Become a Faster and Cheaper Settlement Layer for Validity Proofs on Top of EigenLayer
PRESS RELEASE. April 15th, 2024 –– Aligned Layer has successfully raised .6 million in a funding round led by Lemniscap, a VC firm specializing in emerging crypto assets and early-stage blockchain startups. The round also won investment from Paper Ventures, Bankless Ventures and industry angels. The raise marks a significant milestone in Aligned Layer’s mission […]
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Bitcoin Q1 Performance Digest: 70% Price Surge, Inflows Into ETFs, And Expansion Of Layer TVL Revealed
Bitcoin (BTC) has shown an impressive performance in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024, as highlighted in a recent report by market intelligence data research firm Messari. The research firm finds key factors contributing to Bitcoin’s price increase, market cap dominance, and the emergence of new trends in the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
Inscription Activities Drive Bitcoin Fees Up
Analyzing the key figures detailed in the report, Bitcoin’s price experienced a significant increase in Q1 2024, rising 68.78% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) to reach an all-time high (ATH) of ,100.
This price increase propelled Bitcoin’s market cap dominance to 49.7% in March 2024. Interestingly, the research firm notes that such dominance is a typical feature at the start of a new halving cycle, with Bitcoin often leading the way for other cryptocurrencies.
Another relevant figure is the inscription activity in Q4 2023, which drove fees up by 699.4% QoQ. However, in Q1 2024, subscription-related fees decreased by 41.9%. Despite declining total fees, inscription-related transactions still accounted for 18.4% of Bitcoin’s total fees, demonstrating their continued relevance.
Average daily transactions and daily active addresses also experienced a decline of 15.3% and 4.7% QoQ, respectively. The report suggests that the decline in transaction activity may be attributed to decreased activity from bots or “super users.” This shift aligns with the decrease in inscription-related activities and fees.
Inscription-related activity initially surged in February 2023, leading to a considerable transaction increase. Although Q1 2024 witnessed a decline in inscription-related activity QoQ, it remained significantly higher year-over-year (YoY), indicating its continued impact on the network.
ETFs Amassed 212,000 BTC In Q1
Messari highlights that Q1 2024 showed the growth of programmable layers in the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Established layers such as Rootstock and Stacks led the way regarding total value locked (TVL), while newer layers such as BOB and Merlin experienced rapid growth.
TVL’s 127% QoQ growth was primarily in non-BTC assets, as Bitcoin-locked amounts lagged behind the Lightning Network and alt-L1 networks, which host significant amounts of BTC.
Ultimately, the approval and launch of nine spot ETFs and one ETF conversion marked a significant milestone for Bitcoin’s legitimization by the US government and traditional finance (TradFi).
The report notes that these ETFs garnered over billion in inflows within the first month. Notably, BTC ETFs surpassed silver ETFs in assets under management (AUM) but still lagged behind gold ETFs.
Institutional BTC holdings were also surpassed by MicroStrategy, the largest institutional holder, with 215,000 BTC. The ETFs accumulated 212,000 BTC in inflows during Q1, further establishing Bitcoin’s prominence in the financial markets.
Bitcoin’s exceptional performance in Q1 2024, marked by a significant price increase and market cap dominance, has solidified its position as the leading cryptocurrency.
Anticipation for the supply halving, along with the success of BTC ETFs and institutional inflows, has contributed to Bitcoin’s growth and recognition in traditional finance.
Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com
ICB Network Enters New Era of Blockchain Technology With Advanced Layer 1 Project
PRESS RELEASE. Singapore, April 5, 2024 – During this crucial period for the crypto industry, ICB Crypto Services is ready to announce the early launch of the Ideal Cooperation Blockchain (ICB) Network. Designed by the sophisticated ICB Labs, the ICB Network introduces a promising Layer 1 blockchain project that was created to update the standards […]
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Van Eck Analysts Foresee $1 Trillion Market Cap for Ethereum’s Layer Twos by 2030
Van Eck analysts predict that Ethereum’s Layer two (L2) scaling solutions will reach a trillion market cap within six years, fueled by the need to overcome Ethereum’s limitations in processing capacity, data storage, and computation. Despite acknowledging the potential for significant revenue generation on L2 networks over the base Ethereum network, the analysts express […]
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Coinbase to Shift USDC Accounts to Its Layer Two Blockchain Base
Coinbase plans to transition more customer and corporate Usd coin (USDC) stablecoin accounts to Base, its Ethereum layer two blockchain, aiming for reduced fees and quicker settlement times, as announced by Coinbase VP Max Branzburg. The move is seen by some in the crypto industry as a positive step towards an on-chain financial future, setting […]
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Layer 1 Blockchain Mantra Secures $11 Million from Latest Investment Funding Round
Mantra, the Layer 1 blockchain for real-world assets (RWA), recently raised million in an investment round that was led by Shorooq Partners. Mantra said the raised funds will also be used to provide developers with the tools they need to create RWA protocols and to expand the tokenization of these assets. Scaling Real-World Asset […]
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