A new staking protocol, StakeWise, has launched its V3 protocol on the Gnosis Chain, an Ethereum sidechain. This launch introduces a new staking marketplace and provides permissionless access to the new liquid staking token osGNO. Before this launch, StakeWise V2 platform had accumulated over 73,000 GNO in deposits, equivalent to about 40% of Gnosis Chain’s staked assets. GNO is the governance and staking token for Gnosis Chain, used to secure the protocol and vote on key changes to its roadmap.
On July 25, BitcoinOS, a network of Bitcoin-based rollup chains, verified the first-ever zero-knowledge (ZK) proof on Bitcoin’s mainchain. ZK cryptography is seen as a crucial technology for scaling blockchain throughput and usefulness, but its complexity and computational intensity posed challenges for implementation on the Bitcoin network. BitcoinOS stated that this verification marks the first permissionless upgrade of the Bitcoin system without the need for a soft fork, making Bitcoin infinitely upgradable without changes to the consensus code. BitcoinOS aims to be the ultimate implementation of a Bitcoin rollup system, connecting multiple rollups secured by the Bitcoin blockchain and ZK proofs.
Roxom, a startup, raised $4.3 million in pre-seed funding to launch the first stock, commodities, and futures exchange denominated in Bitcoin. Founded by CEO Borja Martel and CTO Nick Damico, Roxom aims to provide Bitcoin native financial markets, enabling holders to access various financial services directly. The funding round was led by Kingsway, Draper, and David Marcus, emphasizing the importance of Bitcoin-native financial markets in expanding the cryptocurrency ecosystem.
P2P.org is integrating the newly launched Avail Network into its non-custodial staking platform to facilitate smoother cross-chain transactions and enhance overall blockchain interaction. This integration will offer a 0% fee incentive for the first three months of staking AVAIL, showcasing the platform’s commitment to innovation and efficient network management.
Elastos, a Bitcoin-based Layer-2 service, announced the introduction of native bitcoin staking for the first time using the Elastos BeL2 SDK. This development aims to encourage the staking of dormant Bitcoins through the development of Native Bitcoin dapps. Elastos highlights its unique arbiter node technology and smart contracts, offering dispute resolution and revenue opportunities to node holders who stake Elastos ELA or BTC.
Unchained, a Bitcoin financial services company, launched “Connections,” a service designed to help friends and family securely invest in Bitcoin. By leveraging trusted relationships, Connections aims to enhance Bitcoin’s accessibility and protect against digital threats, providing a user-friendly interface for investing and securing Bitcoin.
Core, a blockchain utilizing Bitcoin’s security mechanism and the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), adopted a Dual Staking model called “Bitcoin x CORE.” This model builds on Core’s Non-Custodial Bitcoin Staking implementation to establish a Bitcoin Risk-Free Rate, attracting 55% of Bitcoin mining hash power to secure over 100 dapps with a total value locked of $135 million. Dual Staking aims to transform Bitcoin into a secure, yield-bearing asset, solidifying Core’s position in the cryptocurrency space.
Blake Benthall, the operator behind the Silk Road 2.0 black market, announced the launch of his new company Fathom(x). Fathom(x) aims to provide individuals and businesses with the ability to track and access their cryptocurrency assets, simplifying compliance with legal requirements. Benthall’s dark web experience has influenced his pitch to investors, highlighting the importance of transparency and security in the cryptocurrency industry.