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Cryptocurrency “re-staking” platforms grow as traders chase higher returns

SatoshiTimes Staff

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FILE PHOTO: Illustration shows representations of cryptocurrency Bitcoin

By Elizabeth Howcroft

LONDON (Reuters) – More than $18 billion worth of cryptocurrencies have been moved to a new type of platform that offers investors rewards in exchange for locking up their tokens, in a complex scheme that analysts say poses a risk to users and for the cryptocurrency market.

The growing popularity of so-called “re-staking” is the latest sign of risk-taking in cryptocurrency markets as prices rise and traders chase yield. Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, is near all-time highs while Ether, the second largest, is up more than 60% this year.

At the center of the re-staking boom is Seattle-based start-up EigenLayer. The company, which raised $100 million from the crypto arm of US venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz in February, has attracted $18.8 billion in cryptocurrencies to its platform, up from less than $400 million six months ago .

EigenLayer invented re-staking to expand a long-standing cryptographic practice called staking, its founder Sreeram Kannan told Reuters.

Blockchains are a kind of database, involving many computers in a network that monitor and confirm who owns which cryptocurrencies. To do this, owners of crypto tokens, such as Ether, allow their assets to be locked as part of the validation process. Holders lose immediate access to their tokens as long as they participate in staking, but in exchange they earn a return.

Some staking platforms also offer users newly created cryptocurrencies to represent the cryptocurrencies they have staked. Re-staking allows owners to take those new tokens and re-stake them with different blockchain-based programs and applications in hopes of higher returns.

The cryptocurrency world is divided over how risky re-staking is, with some industry insiders saying the practice is too nascent to know.

But others, including analysts, worry that if new tokens representing re-staking cryptocurrencies are used as collateral in the vast crypto lending markets, there could be endless cycles of lending based on a small number of underlying assets. That could destabilize broader cryptocurrency markets if everyone tries to exit at the same time, they say.

“When you have something that has collateral upon collateral, it’s not ideal, it adds a new element of risk that wasn’t there,” said Adam Morgan McCarthy, research analyst at crypto data provider Kaiko.

The attraction for investors is the yield: returns from staking on the Ethereum blockchain are typically between 3% and 5%, but analysts say returns could be higher for re-staking, as the investors can earn multiple returns at once.

Re-staking is the latest development in the risky world of decentralized finance, or DeFi, in which cryptocurrency holders invest in experimental schemes in the hope of generating large returns on their holdings without having to sell them.

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However, the EigenLayer platform has yet to pay out staking rewards directly to users, because the mechanism to do so has not been developed. Users join the platform in anticipation of future rewards or other freebies known as airdrops.

For now, EigenLayer has distributed its newly created token to people using the platform. Users hope that this token called “EIGEN” will be worth something in the future.

Kaiko’s Morgan McCarthy said the growth of re-staking platforms has been fueled by users seeking such launches, calling it “really, really speculative, this free money thing.”

“It’s very risky,” said David Duong, head of research at U.S. cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase, which offers staking but not re-staking.

“They’re doing it preemptively right now, (with the) expectation of being rewarded with something but they don’t know what,” Duong said.

ENTER EIGENLAYER

EigenLayer was launched last year by Sreeram Kannan, a former assistant professor at the University of Washington in Seattle and part of a team that launched the first student-designed micro-satellite in India, according to his academic website.

EigenLayer describes itself as a marketplace for validation services, connecting would-be stakers with applications that need staking tokens.

New re-staking platforms have emerged, including EtherFi, Renzo and Kelp DAO, which re-stake customer tokens on EigenLayer for them and generate new tokens to represent those re-staking assets. These tokens can be used elsewhere, for example as collateral in loans.

Kannan said the goal of his platform is to allow users to choose where to stake their tokens and help the growth of new blockchain services, not to increasingly incentivize cryptocurrency-backed loans.

“We have no official relationship with any of these players… This is an emerging phenomenon,” he said.

Coinbase’s Duong says re-staking could pose “hidden risks”: If re-staking tokens were used in crypto lending, there could be forced liquidations and increased volatility during market downturns, he wrote in a note.

The 2022 sell-off in cryptocurrency markets was exacerbated by high-risk lending, as crypto tokens used as collateral rapidly lost their value following the collapse of the Earth and Moon tokens.

Kannan distances EigenLayer from risks.

“The risk is not in the re-staking but rather in the lending protocols. The lending protocols are incorrectly pricing the risk,” he said.

Some experts are not concerned about re-staking, pointing out that the money made from re-staking protocols is tiny compared to the $2.5 trillion in net assets of the global cryptocurrency industry.

Regulators have long been concerned about losses in the cryptocurrency world spilling over into broader financial markets.

“For now, we see no significant risk of contagion from repositioning of issues in traditional financial markets,” said Andrew O’Neill, head of digital asset analysis at S&P Global Ratings.

However, the world of cryptocurrencies is becoming more and more connected to traditional finance and re-staking is gaining traction among institutional investors.

Zodia Custody, a division of Standard Chartered, has seen significant institutional interest in staking, but believes re-staking is a step too far because it is difficult to establish a “paper trail” of where assets go and how rewards are split, Chief Risk Officer Anoosh Arevshatian said.

Nomura’s crypto arm, Laser Digital, has partnered with Kelp DAO to reshare some of its funds, Kelp DAO said in an April blog post. Laser Digital did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Cryptocurrency-focused Swiss bank Sygnum said it stakes customers’ crypto assets and expects “a new ecosystem to emerge around re-staking.”

(Reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft; Editing by Tommy Reggiori Wilkes and Sharon Singleton)

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US Cryptocurrency Rules Delayed by ‘Never-Ending’ Lawsuits

SatoshiTimes Staff

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Ripple Pledges $25 Million Per Year to Crypto Super PAC

Ripple CEO says cryptocurrency industry still seeking regulatory clarity from US

Speaking to Bloomberg News on Wednesday (July 17), Author: Brad Garlinghouse he said America is behind behind other countries which have already adopted cryptocurrency regulations.

“What we’re seeing, where it’s the UK, Japan, Singapore… even the European Union, more than two dozen countries have come together to provide a framework for cryptocurrency regulation,” Garlinghouse said.

“It’s frustrating that we as a country can’t get that regulatory framework in place. And instead, we have this never-ending lawsuit coming from the SEC that doesn’t really address the problem.”

Ripple has been the target of some of these legal disputes. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sued the company in 2020, accusing it of conducting a $1.3 billion operation offering of unregistered securities tied to its XRP token.

However, last year a judge ruled that only Ripple’s institutional sales of XRP, not retail sales, violated the law, a decision widely seen as a victory for the cryptocurrency industry.

As PYMNTS noted at the time, that ruling has “far-reaching repercussions impact across the digital asset ecosystem, which has long maintained that its tokens do not represent securities contracts.”

However, Garlinghouse told Bloomberg on Wednesday that the company cannot wage multimillion-dollar legal battles over each token.

He spoke to the news agency from the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where the party is backing the candidacies of former President Donald Trump and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, both of whom are considered pro-cryptocurrency.

But Garlinghouse argued that cryptocurrencies “should not be a partisan issue,” and noted that he had recently attended a conference in Washington that included Democrats, including White House officials.

“I think they were there, listening to the industry… it was refreshing to start having that conversation,” she said.

President Joe Biden earlier this year he vetoed a measure which would have ended the SEC’s special rules for crypto-asset custodians. This legislation was supported by both the digital asset industry and the banking industry.

Ripple early this year donated $25 million to the cryptocurrency industry’s super PAC Fair Smoothiewith Garlinghouse stating at the time that such donations would continue every year, as long as the industry had its detractors.

Second Open SecretsWhich monitor spending For campaigns, the PAC has spent $13.4 million this year, much of it to help defeat Rep. Katie Porter’s (D-Calif.) U.S. Senate campaign.



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The Future of Cybersecurity in the Cryptocurrency Industry

SatoshiTimes Staff

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The Future of Cybersecurity in the Cryptocurrency Industry

The cryptocurrency space has had a tumultuous journey, with its fair share of ups and downs. As we look to the future, one area that remains a constant focus is cybersecurity. The digital nature of cryptocurrencies makes them inherently vulnerable to cyber threats, and as the industry evolves, so does the landscape of potential risks.

In 2022, the cryptocurrency market faced significant challenges, with over $2 trillion in market value lost. This event served as a wake-up call for the industry, highlighting the need for robust cybersecurity measures. The future of cryptocurrency security is expected to see a shift towards more regulated and established institutions taking the reins of crypto technology and blockchain infrastructure.

The decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies offers numerous benefits, such as transparency and financial inclusion. However, it also introduces unique security challenges. The risk landscape is filled with threats such as hacking, phishing, ransomware attacks, malware, and social engineering. These threats not only lead to financial losses, but also damage the reputation and trust within the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

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The decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies offers many benefits, but it also presents unique security challenges. Cyber ​​risks such as hacking, phishing, and ransomware pose threats to the integrity of digital assets. The infrastructure that supports cryptocurrencies is not immune to vulnerabilities, including smart contract flaws and exchange hacks.

To address these vulnerabilities, the infrastructure that supports cryptocurrencies must be strengthened. Smart contract vulnerabilities, exchange hacks, wallet breaches, and flaws in the underlying blockchain technology are significant concerns that must be addressed to ensure the security and integrity of digital assets.

As cybercriminal tactics and techniques become more sophisticated, the cryptocurrency industry must stay ahead of the curve. The future will likely see more targeted attacks, exploiting weaknesses in infrastructure, networks, and human factors. This requires a proactive and multifaceted approach to cybersecurity.

To mitigate these risks, several measures must be adopted:

Strengthening security measures: Developers, exchanges, and wallet providers must improve security protocols, use strong encryption, implement multi-factor authentication, and conduct regular security audits.

Education and awareness: Users should be educated on best practices for protecting their digital assets, including using strong passwords, recognizing phishing attempts, and using hardware wallets for secure storage.

Looking ahead, the cryptocurrency industry is expected to see an increased focus on robust security measures. Blockchain projects and exchanges are likely to invest in advanced encryption techniques and decentralized storage solutions to protect user assets. The future impact of cyber risk on cryptocurrencies will depend on the collective efforts of stakeholders to address vulnerabilities and strengthen security measures.

Collective efforts by stakeholders in the cryptocurrency space are crucial to address vulnerabilities and strengthen security measures. While challenges persist, advances in cybersecurity technologies and practices offer hope for a more secure and resilient cryptocurrency ecosystem.

The future of cybersecurity in the cryptocurrency industry depends on finding a balance between innovation and regulation. It requires a collaborative effort from all parties involved, from developers to end users, to create a secure environment that fosters trust and growth in the industry. As we move forward, it is critical that lessons learned from past events guide the development of stronger security measures, ensuring the longevity and stability of cryptocurrencies as a vital part of the modern economic toolkit.

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Bullish XRP and RLBK price predictions rise, outpacing the broader cryptocurrency market, prompting Shiba Inu holders to switch!

SatoshiTimes Staff

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Bullish XRP and RLBK price predictions rise, outpacing the broader cryptocurrency market, prompting Shiba Inu holders to switch!

Bitcoin’s one-week surge from $60,000 has pushed other cryptocurrencies into an uptrend. However, for many altcoins, this trend has been temporary. Altcoins such as XRP and Shiba Inu (SHIB) have experienced price drops. However, Rollblock, a new altcoin on the Ethereum blockchain, has thrived during this period, attracting thousands of investors looking for long-term growth.

XRP’s Nearly 30% Growth Over Last Week Drops as Selling Pressure Increases

XRP is seeing further price decline as Ripple investors withdraw their profits from the token. The surge in XRP’s price to $0.64 in the past week has provided investors with a perfect opportunity to increase their returns in the short term. With the ongoing sell-off in XRP, XRP has jumped over 8% in the past day and is now trading at $0.59. However, analysts tracking XRP indicators predict that XRP could still extend its gains by over 30% in the coming weeks.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) marks its third consecutive day of losses

Shiba Inu (SHIB) is in a period of adjustment after a week of strong gains. In the last 24 hours, SHIB has seen a jump of over 7%, reflecting a natural market fluctuation. Analysts are observing a death cross on the Shiba Inu chart, which historically signals the potential for future opportunities as the market stabilizes. As investors explore new possibilities, some are diversifying into promising altcoins like Rollblock (RBLK) to strategically rebalance their portfolios and capitalize on the emerging trend.

Rollblock (RBLK) Up Another 7% as New Investors Join Pre-Sale

Rollblock (RBLK) has taken the cryptocurrency market by storm, having attracted investors from more popular altcoins like Shiba Inu (SHIB) and XRP. Rollblock’s growth is attributed to its utility in the $450 billion global gaming industry.

Rollblock aims to use blockchain technology to bridge the gap between centralized and decentralized gambling. With blockchain technology, Rollblock secures every transaction in its online casino, providing transparency and convenience to millions of players who are uncomfortable placing bets on other iGaming platforms.

This innovative use of blockchain technology in the industry has grown Rollblock to over 4,000 new users in less than two months. With plans to add sports betting, this number is expected to grow exponentially in Q3.

Rollblock uses a revenue sharing model that splits up to 30% of its casino’s weekly profits with token holders. This happens after Rollblock buys back $RBLK from the open market and uses half of it for rewards. The other half is burned to increase the price of $RBLK.

Rollblock price has seen four increases in the past month with $RBLK tokens now selling for $0.017. Analysts predict that at the current growth rate, Rollblock could increase by over 800% before the presale ends. For investors looking for a long-term token with growth potential, phase four is the best time to buy Rollblock before its price skyrockets!

Discover the exciting Rollblock (RBLK) pre-sale opportunities now!

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Texas Crypto Miners Turn to AI as Crypto Declines

SatoshiTimes Staff

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Texas Crypto Miners Turn to AI as Crypto Declines

As cryptocurrency mining becomes less profitable, Texas cryptocurrency mining companies are switching to supporting artificial intelligence companies.

Bitcoin miners, with their sprawling data centers and access to significant energy resources, are ideally suited for computationally intensive AI operations, and as cryptocurrency mining becomes less profitable, companies see this shift as a logical answer to their problems.

On Thursday, Houston-based Lancium and Denver-based Crusoe Energy Systems announced a multibillion-dollar deal to build a 200-megawatt data center near the West Texas city of Abilene to support advanced artificial intelligence applications such as medical research and aircraft design, CNBC reported. The plant represents the first phase of a larger 1.2 gigawatt project.

Lancium and Crusoe’s move into AI mirrors a broader trend among bitcoin miners. The combined market capitalization of the top U.S.-listed bitcoin miners hit a record $22.8 billion in June. Companies like Bit Digital and Hut 8 are diversifying into AI, with Bit Digital securing a $92 million annual revenue deal to supply Nvidia GPUs and Hut 8 raising $150 million to expand its AI data center.

But the growing popularity of these operations also presents challenges, particularly for the Texas power grid. Last month, the Electric Reliability Council of Texas announced that the state is expected to nearly double its energy production by 2030 to meet the high energy demands of data centers and cryptocurrency operations.

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick expressed concern about the projections.

“Cryptocurrency miners and data centers will account for more than 50% of the additional growth. We need to take a close look at these two sectors,” He wrote on Twitter/X. “They produce very few jobs compared to the incredible demands they place on our network. Cryptocurrency miners could actually make more money selling electricity to the network than they do from their cryptocurrency mining operations.”

Analysts predict significant growth in data center power capacity, which is expected to account for up to 9% of U.S. electricity consumption by 2030.

The operations also pose challenges for nearby cities. Earlier this month, TIME reported that a crypto-mining facility was seriously compromising the health of residents in the city of Granbury. TIME reported more than 40 people with serious health problems, including cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and hearing loss. At least 10 of the residents needed to go to the emergency room or an urgent care facility.

The disturbances were caused by the extreme noise generated by the crypto-mining facility’s fans, which are used to keep the machines cool. While the proposed data center in Abilene would use liquid cooling systems, it’s still unclear whether the facility’s operations would pose a health risk to local residents.

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