Bitget Eyes Middle East for Crypto Expansion, Plans to Hire 60 New Staff

Bitget, a leading crypto derivatives and copy trading platform, has announced plans to expand its operations into the Middle East, as reported on July 20, 2023. The Seychelles-based exchange is set to hire 60 new staff members as part of its global scaling strategy, aimed at increasing crypto adoption across new audiences.

The Middle East region, known for its burgeoning crypto activity, is a prime target for Bitget’s expansion. The exchange is considering launching initiatives in countries such as Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including the crypto-friendly emirates of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Ras Al Khaimah. The expansion plan includes setting up a regional headquarter and recruiting new team members for various mid-office and back-office roles.

Recent data on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region’s crypto adoption reveals a rapidly growing industry. The region accounted for 9.2% of global crypto transactions from 2021 to 2022. The UAE alone saw a 400% growth in registered crypto businesses between 2020 and 2022, contributing to a surge in global digital asset trading, which accounted for 10% of the global volume. The region also experienced a 300% increase in blockchain-related educational programs and contributed to 8% of all mining hash rates.

Gracy Chen, Managing Director of Bitget, stated that the company hopes to scale its Middle East team rapidly to support business growth. The plan includes hiring 30 to 60 new team members over the next two years or more across the Middle East region. Bitget is also considering Dubai as a potential operational hub for the Middle East market.

Bitget has already started exploring license applications to operate in target Middle East markets. Gaining proper licenses and regulatory approval is a top priority for the company to support its expansion and open regional offices.

The Middle East expansion plan follows Bitget’s recent global scaling efforts, including its registration as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in Poland and similar crypto registration in Lithuania. Earlier this year, Bitget also launched in Turkey, now boasting a fully localized Turkish website, Bitget TR, to cater to users in the country.

Founded in 2018, Bitget serves over 8 million users in more than 100 countries and regions, offering secure, one-stop trading solutions. The exchange is known for its collaborations with notable partners, including Argentinian footballer Lionel Messi and official eSports events organizer PGL.

Image source: Shutterstock

Source

Tagged : / / /

BNB Chain: Driving the Next Billion User Revolution in Web3, NFTs, and the Metaverse – An Exclusive Interview

Blockchain technology has been a game-changer, fueling the rise of decentralized applications and introducing novel concepts like Web3, NFTs, and the Metaverse. Leading this significant transition is BNB Chain, a platform dedicated to creating cross-chain/multi-chain infrastructure and interoperability. They aim to lay the groundwork for the next 1 billion Web3 users, making it effortless for Web3 Gaming, NFTs, and Metaverse dApps to scale.

In our exclusive interview today with Walter Lee, Web3 Gaming Growth Lead  in BNB Chain Innovation, we delve deeper into the strategies BNB Chain is employing to reach this ambitious target, their plans to bridge the gap between decentralized technologies and traditional users, their approach to keeping transaction fees affordable, and a sneak peek into some upcoming updates and features. We also touch upon BNB Chain’s competitiveness in the rapidly evolving blockchain space and their unyielding support for the development of decentralized applications (dApps). Keep reading to discover their innovative strategies, upcoming developments, and insights on the future of Web3.

BNB Chain aims to reach 1 billion users. What strategies are in place to achieve this ambitious goal?

BNB Chain provides cross-chain/multi-chain infrastructure and interoperability to lay the foundation for the next 1 billion Web3 users making it super easy for Web3 Gaming, NFTs and Metaverse dApps to scale.

To accommodate a large number of users, BNB Chain will improve performance and scalability. In addition to its storage network BNB Greenfield, it has optimized its infrastructure by implementing layer 2 solutions including opBNB into BNB Chain’s modular stack. Its EVM-compatibility means that it will be a value-add to the network and handle increased transaction volume and user demand

Performance improvements including its Layer 2 solutions such as opBNB is able to hit around 4K TPS. Also, it has an estimated 90% reduction in gas fees at $0.005. This creates a responsive and low latency environment for users.The gaming industry is huge and growing at a rapid pace, there are an estimated 3 billion gamers out there and there has been a lot of growth for web3 gaming on BNB Chain in recent times. Hence, we believe that Gaming will be one of the key verticals for BNB Chain to achieve 1 billion users!

How does BNB Chain plan to bridge the gap between decentralized technologies and users who still rely on consistent, centralized relationships and identities?

Web3 technology is not exactly a revolution for existing industries, it is in fact a market expansion. BNB Chain understands that existing users cannot be disrupted instantly. There has been observable maturity in the development growth in the web3 space to bridge this gap, starting from the user journey. For most dApps, there has been a move away from “forcing” users to connect to a blockchain wallet. Instead, dApps could leverage social logins to generate wallets attached to the social identity and assets would be automatically dropped into the linked wallet. Users would then be empowered to make their own decisions in terms of managing the owned assets.

For developers, BNB Chain’s goal is to provide the best and most extensive infrastructure for true web3 developments. For example, BNB Greenfield, which is a decentralized storage platform designed to revolutionize the data economy by utilizing the power of decentralized technology for data ownership and management. Built within the BNB Chain ecosystem, this platform introduces a decentralized approach to data management that seamlessly integrates with BNB Smart Chain (BSC).

Features include:

  1. Native integration of data permissions and management logic onto BSC as exchangeable assets and programmable smart contract programs.
  2. Providing of developer-friendly API and performance equivalent to popular Web2 cloud storage solutions;
  3. Comprehensive incentivization of all participants of the network to ensure high-quality service and a sustainable ecosystem

Compared to other decentralized storage services like IPFS, Filecoin, Arweave, and Web3.storage, Greenfield offers several advantages. It is designed to be highly scalable, cloud-native, and compatible with both Web2 and Web3 standards. It provides strong performance and reliability regardless of the amount of data being stored. The integration with BSC and the EVM environment allows for fully programmable capabilities and a wide range of use cases.

Overall, the web3 industry is still very young so there will be continued innovations that will aid users and developers in adding benefits and features to various industries such as in Finance and Gaming.

Can you tell us about BNB Chain’s transaction fees, and what measures are in place to keep them affordable for users?

BNB Chain’s transaction fees have been one of the lowest in the industry, starting off at around 5 gwei. In recent times, BNB Chain’s validators have opted towards reducing that further in order to encourage competitiveness, which will result in positive ecosystem growth. As of April 2023, BNB Chain’s gas fees have further reduced to 3 gwei, and that is around a few cents per transaction.

On top of that, BNB Chain has recently launched the testnet for opBNB, which will further reduce the gas fees by around 90% to $0.005! This should be very exciting for both developers and users, opBNB is expected to launch into the mainnet in Q3 this year.

Can you discuss any upcoming updates or features that users can look forward to on BNB Chain?

opBNB – The opBNB Testnet is live and we are calling on testnet Validators and dApp Builders to try the Testnet and provide feedback.

opBNB represents our commitment to ensuring a seamless and efficient experience for users, developers, and projects on BSC. This development is part of our ongoing mission to bring the power of blockchain to everyone while embracing and driving forward innovation.

opBNB is BSC’s answer to the scalability challenge that has limited the mass adoption of blockchain technology. As an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) compatible layer 2 chain, opBNB solution is based on Optimism OP Stack to further enhance BSC scalability while preserving affordability and security.

Optimistic Rollups was proposed to reduce the computational load on the main chain by executing transactions off-chain and only posting transaction data on-chain as calldata. This approach drastically improves scalability by bundling multiple transactions together before submitting them to the main chain.

The mix of BSC’s strong ability and opBNB’s dedicated new features, which includes making data access easier, improving the cache system, and adjusting the submission process algorithm to allow simultaneous operations (also known as batcher), allows OpBNB to push the gas limit up to a whopping 100M. This is a big jump from Optimism’s 30M (source: link). Thanks to these new features, OpBNB can handle over 4000 transfer transactions each second and keep the average cost of a transaction below 0.005 USD. By harnessing the power of Optimistic Rollups, opBNB moves computation and state storage off-chain, alleviating congestion and driving down transaction costs.

BNB Greenfield – The BNB Greenfield testnet is live and the community is calling on testnet Validators, Storage providers (SPs), and dApp Builders to join the decentralized storage tech stack to shape the future of data ownership in Web3.

BNB Greenfield is an innovative blockchain and storage platform that seeks to unleash the power of decentralized technology on data ownership and the data economy. It is a decentralized, open-source storage chain with BNB as its token.

With a focus on facilitating decentralized data management and access, Greenfield aims to revolutionize the data economy by easing the storing and management of data and linking data ownership with the DeFi context of BNB Smart Chain (BSC).

  1. Greenfield, a decentralized storage chain using BNB tokens is now Live, marking asignificant milestone as it implements core features outlined in the whitepaper. Developers can explore various features like account creation, data storage, access control, cross-chain communication, storage provision, node validation, and staking.
  2. Greenfield aims to offer the fastest data service among decentralized storage solutions with cost-effective features, comparable to Web 2 cloud storage. This sets the stage for widespread adoption.
  3.  A native relayer links BSC and Greenfield, enabling BSC Dapps to integrate with Greenfield using a simple SDK and minimal development. Upon Greenfield mainnet launch, thousands of Dapp data sets will be available, fostering rapid ecosystem growth and easing data-related innovation compared to other chains.
  4. Users will have control over their data, meaning they can decide who can access it and set the access fees. This broadens ownership from assets to data.
  5. The BNB token’s use will extend to large-scale data storage and trading, which will enhance its value over time

What sets Greenfield apart from existing centralized and decentralized storage systems are its three key components:

  1. Data Ownership: Users own the data and can grant permissions either manually or programmatically.
  2. EVM Compatibility by Integration with BSC : It allows Ethereum-compatible addresses to create and manage both data.It natively links data permissions and management logic onto BSC as exchangeable assets and smart contract programs with all other assets.
  3. High Performance Rich API/SDK: It provides developers with similar API primitives and performance as popular existing Web2 cloud storage. The performance is comparable to commercial cloud as well.

Hackvolution – BNB Chain are inviting all developers, researchers and scientists to participate in the online Hackvolution event that seeks to redefine and empower the next-generation of dApps with the potential of opBNB and BNB Greenfield.

Whether you are interested in Infrastructure, DeFi, Gaming, or AI, this hackathon provides the platform to explore, innovate, and make a lasting impact. This is your chance to demonstrate your creativity, technical skills, and entrepreneurial spirit as you work alongside a vibrant community of like-minded individuals.

The hackathon is supported by industry leaders such as COMBO, CyberConnect, Hooked Protocol, Alibaba Cloud, Google Cloud and Ultiverse. Generous rewards, including cash prizes, marketing packages, participation in the BNB Chain’s Gas Grant program, and discounted access to essential tools and services, are up for grabs.

It’s an exciting chance for dvelopers to gain recognition, network with industry experts, and propel their project to new heights.

How does BNB Chain plan to stay competitive as the blockchain space continues to evolve and new players enter the market?

BNB Chain is one of the most up to date and extensive infrastructure technology. A good example would be the launches of zkBNB and opBNB, as well as the fully decentralized storage layer, Greenfield. With an extensive infrastructure, developers and users get to build and experience Web3 in the best ways possible, building the strongest advantage of BNB Chain our large and fast growing community.

BNB Chain has more than 3 million in our social communities, and over 1500 dApps. This vibrant range of products and community size are the key contributions for over 1 million daily active on-chain users in this current market.

As “BNB” actually means “Build N Build”, we believe by continuously building with developers and community through support provision and engagements respectively, BNB Chain will continue to be a dominant ecosystem in the web3 industry.

How does BNB Chain support the development of decentralized applications (dApps)?

BNB Chain recognizes the importance of the community and hence, we have been constantly engaging developers and users. We understand that developers are our pillars for growth, and there are many challenges in developing Web3 products, so BNB Chain has been providing various supports including but not limited to:

  1. Marketing collaborations and support – BNB Chain plays an active role in bringing useful information and knowledge of its Web3 dApps to the community
  2. Grants – For projects that are in need of funding, BNB Chain offers the Builders’ & Gas Grants. The Builders’ grant aims to encourage projects to bring value and growth to the ecosystem, while the gas grant helps projects to run growth campaigns by offering grants based on gas fees incurred by the on-chain transactions
  3.  Developer Programs – the industry is ever-changing and the BNB chain is agile in its program creation and implementation to help developers in the space. One of the most popular programs would be the Kickstart program, where providers of various essential web3 services such as on-chain wallet development and security audits are able to list and get connected to new developers. This helps start-ups in web3 navigate and develop their projects effectively

There’s no doubt that BNB Chain is making significant strides in propelling the mass adoption of blockchain technology, particularly in the realms of Web3, NFTs, and Metaverse. The platform’s cutting-edge features such as opBNB, BNB Greenfield, and upcoming initiatives like Hackvolution, promise to revolutionize not just the world of blockchain but the larger digital ecosystem as well.

BNB Chain’s commitment to remaining agile in the ever-changing tech industry, their comprehensive support to developers, and their dedication to building a robust, active, and vibrant community all testify to their potential for continued growth and success. As the blockchain space continues to evolve, we look forward to seeing more innovative developments from BNB Chain and its dedicated team. 

Source

Tagged : / / / / / / /

INX to Tokenize and List Casper Labs Equity on Regulated ATS Platform

Accordint to Blockchain.News, INX Digital Company, Inc. (NEO: INXD, INXATS: INX, OTCQB: INXDF), a US-regulated broker-dealer, ATS, and transfer agent, announced on July 19, 2023, that it will tokenize and list the equity of Casper Labs, a leading enterprise blockchain software provider.

Casper Labs has chosen INX as its preferred platform for tokenizing and listing its equity for trading on the secondary market. This move signifies Casper Labs’ commitment to embracing regulations and the future of finance, as well as the potential of digital assets.

The collaboration will allow Casper Labs shares to be accessible to a potential global liquidity pool of retail and institutional investors in over 60 countries through the INX.One platform. INX.One is the only fully-regulated platform for listing and trading both SEC-registered security tokens and cryptocurrencies.

The listing of Casper Labs equity on INX.One is scheduled for September 2023, providing prospective buyers with ample time to register on the INX platform and participate in this groundbreaking opportunity. The tokenization and listing of Casper Labs equity represent a pivotal moment in the industry, reinforcing tokenization as the leading use case driving the global adoption of digital assets by retail and financial institutions.

Casper Labs, founded in 2018, built the Casper protocol, the first blockchain specifically designed for business users. A recent report from Casper Labs, which surveyed over 600 C-level executives across the U.S., U.K., and China markets, found that 87% of businesses plan to invest in blockchain initiatives in 2023.

INX’s mission is to increase access for U.S. and international investors to the growing opportunities in the digital economy. The INX.One platform aims to democratize financial markets while providing necessary regulatory guardrails through close collaboration with U.S. and global regulators.

Image source: Shutterstock

Source

Tagged : / / / / /

Apple Joins GPT AI Race Following OpenAI and Google

Apple is reportedly developing its own generative pre-trained transformer (GPT) artificial intelligence (AI) model. The model is internally referred to as “Ajax” or “Apple GPT”. But there are no clear indications that the company plans to launch it to the public, keeping the tech community in anticipation.

The Ajax system is said to be similar to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Bard, two leading AI models in the industry. Interestingly, Ajax was developed on top of Google Jax, a machine learning framework, and is currently running on Google Cloud. This connection to Google’s technology could potentially limit Apple’s ability to scale Ajax beyond internal testing due to cost considerations, posing a challenge for the tech giant.

Apple’s approach to AI has always been privacy-focused, a stance that has earned it a loyal user base. The company’s efforts are primarily centered on AI technologies that can run using onboard processors instead of cloud-based services. This approach is in line with Apple’s commitment to user privacy and data security. If Apple were to develop a GPT model capable of running discretely on iPhone hardware, it could offer significant benefits to users who value privacy, potentially revolutionizing the AI space.

Despite Apple’s lack of presence in the chatbot space, the company is a significant player in AI. The AI powering the iPhone’s camera and photography editing suite remains cutting edge, demonstrating Apple’s commitment to integrating AI into its products. Furthermore, Apple Research consistently outputs a steady stream of significant papers in the machine learning space, contributing to the advancement of AI technology.

Multiple teams within Apple are working on the Ajax project. These teams are addressing potential privacy implications, a crucial aspect of AI development. The report also mentions that the company has been using the Ajax-powered chatbot internally, suggesting that Apple is actively testing and refining the technology.

Apple’s most famous AI system is Siri, the voice assistant. To bolster its AI efforts, Apple hired John Giannandrea, who previously headed up AI and search at Google, in 2018 to oversee Siri and its machine learning teams. This strategic hire underscores Apple’s commitment to advancing its AI capabilities.

Apple is planning to make a “significant AI-related announcement” sometime in 2024. However, the company is in no rush to figure out the application of this technology. It is still determining how the technology will integrate into its larger portfolio. This measured approach reflects Apple’s commitment to delivering high-quality, user-friendly products and services.

As the AI race heats up among tech giants, Apple’s entry into the GPT AI space marks a significant step. It will be interesting to see how Apple’s AI developments unfold in the coming years, and how it will shape the future of AI technology. With its focus on privacy and quality, Apple’s advancements in AI could potentially redefine the industry standards.

Image source: Shutterstock

Source

Tagged : / / / / /

Aave Outpaces Market with 9% Growth in Q2 2023, Launches GHO Stablecoin

In decentralized finance (DeFi) world, Aave has emerged as a frontrunner, demonstrating a 9% quarter-on-quarter increase in total value supplied in Q2 2023, outpacing the broader market, according to a recent report by Messari.

The report reveals several significant shifts in the deposit market share within the Aave ecosystem. stETH, a tokenized version of Ethereum staked on the Ethereum 2.0 blockchain, saw a 5% increase in its deposit market share. This growth in stETH deposits was accompanied by a minor decrease in ETH deposits, while Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) deposits experienced an increase.

Aave’s revenue also saw a substantial increase, with a 14% rise quarter-on-quarter, primarily driven by activities on the Ethereum Mainnet. This growth in revenue is a testament to the protocol’s increasing popularity and user adoption. Furthermore, the revenue share from Aave’s V3 markets doubled, suggesting a significant user migration to this newer version of the protocol.

Aave launched its native over-collateralized stablecoin, GHO, on July 15, 2023. The GHO token offers an optimized fixed rate for borrowing against any collateral asset on the Aave V3 market. This innovative feature is expected to attract more users to the platform, further driving its growth.

The report also touched on the proposed Aave Forest framework, aimed at enhancing the protocol’s security. This proposal underscores Aave’s

commitment to providing a secure platform for its users, a critical factor in the DeFi space.

Additionally, the report hinted at the imminent release of Portals, following developments from Chainlink. The release of Portals has been eagerly anticipated by the Aave community, and its launch could potentially mark the end of delays in its rollout.

In conclusion, the Q2 2023 report underscores Aave’s continued growth and innovation in the DeFi sector. With the launch of the GHO stablecoin, the proposed security enhancements, and the anticipated release of Portals, Aave is poised to maintain its leading position in the DeFi space.

Image source: Shutterstock

Source

Tagged : / / / / / / / / /
Bitcoin (BTC) $ 44,184.84 1.58%
Ethereum (ETH) $ 2,355.38 0.65%
Litecoin (LTC) $ 77.91 5.33%
Bitcoin Cash (BCH) $ 253.86 2.48%