Author: Michelle Lazo

This post was originally published on this site

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.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

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.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

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.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

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.”

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

The insatiable demand for power by artificial intelligence firms is benefiting Bitcoin miners. Hut 8 (NASDAQ:HUT) shares outperformed most peers on Monday after the Miami-based company received a $150 million investment from Coatue Management to develop AI infrastructure.

This investment will be provided through convertible notes with an 8% annual interest rate and a conversion rate of $16.395 per share, as stated by the company. Following the announcement, Hut 8 shares rose nearly 4% during Monday morning trading, even as most of its peers followed Bitcoin (BTC) lower.

The investment also positively impacted other Bitcoin mining-related data centers involved in AI and high-performance computing. Soluna Holdings (NASDAQ:SLNH) surged almost 17%, and Applied Digital (NASDAQ:APLD) gained about 10%.

AI and HPC firms are increasingly turning to the Bitcoin mining industry to fulfill their computing power needs. These miners often already possess the required computing capacity and established deals with power suppliers. JPMorgan highlighted that the demand for power by large-scale data centers and AI firms might spark a new era of mergers and acquisitions for Bitcoin miners with favorable power contracts.

Recently, cloud computing provider CoreWeave signed a 200-megawatt deal with miner Core Scientific (NASDAQ:CORZ) for AI-related services and offered to purchase the entire company for over $1 billion. Core Scientific rejected the offer, citing that it undervalued the company.

Coatue Management, an investor in CoreWeave, underscores the high level of interest in utilizing Bitcoin miners’ existing infrastructure for AI services.

Hut 8 emphasized this need for power in their press release, stating, “Many traditional data center operators are failing to meet the surging demand for AI compute capacity due to power shortages, long lead times to bring new capacity online, and the extensive upgrades required for existing data centers to support the latest generation of high-density compute.” Hut 8 aims to help bridge this gap.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has concluded its investigation into Ethereum 2.0, according to a late Tuesday announcement by cryptocurrency firm ConsenSys on social media platform X. ConsenSys had previously filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction against the SEC’s regulation of the Ethereum blockchain.

ConsenSys founder Joseph Lubin hailed the SEC’s decision as “a significant victory” for Ethereum. “While we welcome this development, it’s not enough. We must remain vigilant and continue advocating for clear and fair regulations that enable innovation to flourish,” Lubin, who also co-founded the cryptocurrency Ether, stated on X.

Despite the SEC’s decision, ConsenSys plans to continue its lawsuit to seek a court ruling that the SEC lacks legal authority to regulate the user-controlled software interfaces built on Ethereum or the Ethereum blockchain itself.

An SEC spokesperson declined to comment on the existence or nonexistence of a possible investigation.

Last month, the SEC approved applications from Nasdaq, CBOE, and NYSE to list spot Ether ETFs, a surprising win for the cryptocurrency industry, which had anticipated rejections.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

Marathon Digital Holdings (NASDAQ:MARA) has integrated its multi-chain layer-2 network, Anduro, with the decentralized exchange network Portal to Bitcoin. This integration aims to enhance the utility of the Bitcoin network by enabling atomic swaps, which allow for peer-to-peer transactions of cryptocurrencies across different blockchains.

Marathon, a publicly-traded bitcoin miner, began incubating Anduro in February, describing it as “a platform built on the Bitcoin network that allows for the creation of multiple sidechains.” The integration with the San Francisco-based fintech provider and subsequent renaming to Portal to Bitcoin was announced in an email shared with CoinDesk on Wednesday.

Previously known as Portal, the company raised $34 million in a seed round in March. It leverages the Bitcoin layer-2 network Lightning to facilitate atomic swaps, enabling users to convert assets like Ethereum (ETH) into Bitcoin (BTC).

This development brings greater utility to Bitcoin, a feature common among Ethereum-based assets and other blockchains but relatively new to Bitcoin. Anduro’s integration with Portal to Bitcoin may also offer new revenue streams for miners. By using merge-mining, participating miners can earn Bitcoin-denominated revenue from transactions on these sidechains while continuing to mine Bitcoin on the base layer.

“Integrating Portal to Bitcoin enhances the utility of Bitcoin and presents new opportunities for revenue generation for miners,” said a Marathon spokesperson.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

Hashdex has submitted a proposal to the Securities and Exchange Commission to create an exchange-traded fund that would include both Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). The proposed ETF, named Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index US ETF, aims to offer investors exposure to the two leading cryptocurrencies, reflecting their distribution in the Nasdaq Crypto Index.

The ETF would be composed of approximately 70.54% Bitcoin and 29.46% Ethereum, adhering to a market-cap-weighted strategy that mirrors the broader cryptocurrency market as represented by the Nasdaq Crypto Index.

This initiative marks a significant advancement in integrating digital assets into conventional financial instruments, potentially broadening the accessibility of cryptocurrencies to a wider range of investors. The fund will be backed by custodians Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) Custody Trust Company and BitGo Trust Company and will maintain cash reserves.

While initially focusing on Bitcoin and Ethereum, the ETF may consider including additional digital assets in the future, pending SEC approval. This proposal arrives during a favorable regulatory climate, following the SEC’s approval of Bitcoin spot ETFs and the anticipated introduction of Ethereum ETFs in the U.S. market.

SEC Chair Gary Gensler recently indicated to a Senate committee that Ethereum ETFs might begin trading by this summer.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

Jump Crypto has added $10 million to a U.S. political action committee focused on promoting pro-crypto candidates in Congress. This brings the total contributions from Jump, a Chicago-based investment firm, to $15 million, and raises the PAC’s total funds to nearly $169 million as of Wednesday, according to spokesman Josh Vlasto.

The significant fundraising effort by Fairshake and its affiliated PACs has positioned the crypto industry with one of the most influential campaign-finance operations for the 2024 elections. These super PACs have been heavily investing in primary campaigns, helping their preferred candidates advance toward likely general-election victories in November.

“The crypto and blockchain communities have united to form a sustainable bipartisan coalition and an effective long-term operation,” Vlasto stated. “We will continue to support candidates committed to responsible regulation that drives innovation, creates jobs, and maintains America’s global leadership.”

A spokeswoman for Jump Crypto declined to comment on the donation. This substantial contribution follows recent matching $25-million donations from major crypto firms Coinbase Inc. (NASDAQ:COIN), Ripple, and Andreessen Horowitz.

As of the May 31 Federal Election Commission filing, Fairshake and its related PACs—Defend American Jobs and Protect Progress—held $109 million. With less than five months until the final voting, Vlasto confirmed the PACs do not plan to support presidential candidates, instead focusing on proven congressional incumbents and crypto-friendly candidates.

Recent votes in Congress have provided clearer indicators of lawmakers’ stances on crypto. In May, the House passed the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act, the first comprehensive crypto oversight legislation to clear either chamber. Its future in the Senate remains uncertain, but the vote revealed which House members support crypto regulations.

Additionally, both chambers voted to overturn the Securities and Exchange Commission’s crypto account policy, Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 12. Although President Joe Biden vetoed this effort, it showed 11 Senate Democrats joining Republicans against the SEC policy and the White House’s stance.

These votes demonstrated unexpected support from Democrats and are being used to evaluate lawmakers. Stand With Crypto, an advocacy group started by Coinbase, uses a grading system to rate politicians. For example, Sen. Mark Warner received a “D” grade for his no vote on the SAB 121 resolution, while Sen. Chuck Grassley earned a “B” grade for supporting it.

“Recent votes have helped us educate our advocates on politicians’ positions on crypto,” said Sabrina Siddiqui, a spokesman for Stand With Crypto. She noted that the group reached over a million online members earlier than expected due to strong interest in these key votes.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer

This post was originally published on this site

Crypto investment firm Pantera Capital aims to raise $1 billion for a new fund dedicated to revitalizing the crypto industry. Cosmo Jiang, Pantera Capital’s portfolio manager, revealed that over $200 million of this fund is allocated for investments in artificial intelligence projects.

In a recent interview with DL News, Jiang expressed his belief that AI will become integral to every crypto company, likening it to the necessity of a website for modern businesses. “Investing in AI firms will soon be as standard as investing in companies with websites,” Jiang stated.

Pantera Capital is therefore on the lookout for projects that leverage AI to enhance blockchain technology and vice versa.

Pantera Capital, which counts major companies like Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN), Circle, and Bitstamp in its portfolio, plans to significantly increase its investment in AI-related blockchain projects with the new fund. Jiang noted that their previous fund allocated around 15% to 20% of its capital to such projects, and expects the new fund to allocate even more.

If this trend continues, Pantera Capital could potentially invest over $200 million in AI-adjacent crypto projects over the next decade. Although Jiang did not confirm an exact figure, he acknowledged it as a reasonable estimate.

The fusion of AI and blockchain technologies has captured significant interest, with predictions suggesting it could contribute about $20 trillion to the global economy by 2030. Investors have already funneled over $98.8 million into this sector since the start of 2024. The market value of AI tokens has reached $26 billion, and Bitcoin miners are exploring ways to supply processing power for training AI tools used by Silicon Valley giants.

Pantera Capital is not the only entity recognizing the potential of AI and blockchain convergence. Hedge fund manager Brevan Howard is also actively exploring opportunities in this space.

In a related development, three major AI blockchain firms—SingularityNET, Fetch.ai, and Ocean Protocol—are planning to merge their crypto tokens to create a decentralized AI platform. The proposed ASI token is expected to have a fully diluted value of approximately $7.5 billion. While the merger plans require community approval, an official announcement could come as early as Wednesday. The merged entity, the Superintelligence Collective, will guide their collaborative efforts while allowing the companies to maintain their individual operations.

However, there is some skepticism regarding AI-related crypto tokens. A recent research report by leading crypto exchange Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) suggested that the surge in the AI token market might be driven more by hype than by genuine utility. The report indicated that the value of many AI tokens could be overstated due to the prevailing focus on the AI industry and that these tokens might lack sustainable demand-side drivers in the near to medium term.

Featured Image: Freepik

Please See Disclaimer