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Towns Airdrop Guide: SocialFi Project Backed by a16z

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Towns Airdrop Guide: SocialFi Project Backed by a16z


Here’s how you can position yourself early and maximize your chances of earning from the upcoming $TOWNS airdrop – one of the most anticipated SocialFi project on the Base network.

What is Towns?

Towns is a messaging protocol built on the Base ecosystem. As one of the pioneers in the SocialFi space, Towns aims to build a decentralized group communication platform, similar to Discord, but powered by blockchain to ensure true ownership and control for users.

Currently, Towns is gaining strong momentum, backed by impressive metrics:

Over 1 million memberships purchasedMore than $4.2 million in total transaction volumeOver 332,000 chat groups (Towns) created

Towns has successfully raised $35.5 million, led by a16z, a venture capital firm known for backing several high-profile airdrop projects, such as Walrus (WAL), Story Protocol (IP), and LayerZero (ZRO).

Given these signals, the community is speculating that Towns may be the next “airdrop gem” on the horizon.

Read more: Crypto Venture Capital Funds: Top Crypto VC Firms in 2025

Towns Airdrop Guide

Before participating in the Towns airdrop, make sure you have a small amount of ETH on the Base network to cover gas fees. You’ll also need at least $1 (~0.0007 ETH) to interact with the platform.

Steps to Farm the Towns Airdrop:

Visit the official Towns website.

Sign in using your X (Twitter), Google, or Warpcast (Farcaster) account.

Towns Airdrop Guide

Click the “+” icon on the left-hand sidebar to create your own Town.

A Town is similar to a Discord channel – a space for community chat. Creating your own Town may increase your airdrop eligibility.

Towns Airdrop GuideTowns Airdrop Guide

Click on the “Explore” icon (bottom left) to discover and join other Towns

Pro Tip: Prioritize joining Towns with an entry fee (typically between $5 – $10), as these tend to be more closely tracked for airdrop activity.

Towns Airdrop GuideTowns Airdrop Guide

After completing the basic steps, users can check in daily by clicking on the beaver image on the platform.

Towns Airdrop GuideTowns Airdrop Guide

TOWNS Tokenomics

On April 16, 2025, Towns officially announced plans to launch its native token, $TOWNS, along with preliminary details on its tokenomics and airdrop program:

Total Supply: 10 billion tokensLaunch Timeline: Q2 2025 (before June)Airdrop: 10% of the total supply will be distributed to users

TOWNS TokenomicsTOWNS Tokenomics

TOWNS tokenomics – Source: Towns

As of now, the eligibility criteria for the airdrop haven’t been disclosed; therefore, new users still have a fair chance to participate.

It is likely that factors such as Towns points, chat engagement, and overall platform activity will play a key.

Conclusion

With strong backing from top-tier investors like a16z, impressive growth metrics, and a clear vision in the SocialFi space, Towns is quickly emerging as a promising candidate for the next major airdrop on the Base network. The team hasn’t shared rules yet, giving everyone a fair chance to join the airdrop.

If you’re looking for a low-cost, high-upside airdrop opportunity, Towns is definitely one to watch. Create a Town, join chats, and check in daily to boost your airdrop chances.

Read more: MegaETH Airdrop Guide: Earn the Exclusive Airdrop Distribution



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AI Narrative Might Face Significant Threat from Trump

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AI Narrative Might Face Significant Threat from Trump


President Donald Trump’s escalating trade policies and the recent U.S. ban on NVIDIA selling advanced AI chips to China are causing significant disruptions in the global semiconductor industry. This action could significantly disrupt the AI and Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) ecosystems. 

A Blow to the Semiconductor Supply Chain

According to BBC, semiconductors, the backbone of modern technology, power everything from iPhones to military jets. These chips, while invented in the U.S., rely on a complex global supply chain. Chips are often designed in the U.S., manufactured in Taiwan, Japan, or South Korea using rare earths mined in China, packaged in Vietnam, and assembled in China before being shipped globally. Donald Trump’s decision to block NVIDIA’s AI chip sales to China, particularly the H20 GPU, tailored for the Chinese market, disrupts this delicate ecosystem. 

Additionally, President Trump has imposed tariffs of 32% on Taiwanese GPUs and servers and 46% on Vietnamese-assembled components. These measures increase costs across the supply chain as part of a broader strategy to counter China’s technological rise and incentivize U.S. manufacturing. However, China has retaliated with a substantially high tariff on U.S. chipmakers, and restrictions on rare earth exports further exacerbate shortages, as the U.S. relies on China for 90% of these critical materials.

This trade war and barriers would lead to higher costs of semiconductor chips, directly affecting the related industries.

Immediate Impact on the Traditional AI Industry

The traditional AI industry, encompassing chipmakers and cloud providers, has been hit hard by the NVIDIA ban and associated tariffs, with significant stock market declines reflecting investor fears.

NVIDIA’s Stock Plunge

NVIDIA, according to CNBC, announced on April 15, 2025, that it would record a $5.5 billion charge in its fiscal first quarter ending April 27, 2025, due to U.S. restrictions on exporting H20 graphics processing units to China and other destinations. The charge covers inventory, purchase commitments, and related reserves for H20 chips, which generated an estimated $12 billion to $15 billion in revenue in 2024.

Following the announcement, NVIDIA’s stock slid more than 6% in extended trading, reflecting investor concerns over lost revenue from China, where companies like ByteDance ordered $16 billion in H20 chips in Q1 2025.

NVIDIA’s Stock Plunge

Source: Yahoo Finance

AMD’s Sharp Decline

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), a competitor developing AI chips like the MI309 Instinct, saw its stock fall 8% in after-hours trading on April 15, 2025, as posted on X by The Kobeissi Letter. Investors fear AMD could face similar restrictions, which would lead to a significant drop in its revenue due to its reliance on the Chinese market and TSMC’s manufacturing.

Challenges for AI DePIN Systems

DePIN platforms like io.net and Render, which aggregate GPUs for AI training, rendering, and data processing, face unique vulnerabilities due to the challenges from the traditional AI supply chain:

Rising Operational Costs: Higher GPU prices due to tariffs directly increase costs for DePIN networks. For example, Render RENDER, backed by NVIDIA, may see squeezed margins as hardware expenses climb, potentially reducing payouts to node operators.Supply Constraints: Limited GPU availability could prevent individuals from joining DePIN networks, shrinking computational capacity. Projects like Io.net IO, aiming to source over a million GPUs, may struggle to scale if supply tightens.Revenue Pressure: DePIN platforms may need to raise fees for AI developers or cut rewards for node contributors, risking user growth. Recent market corrections in AI and DePIN tokens, as they continue, suggest declining sentiment, potentially linked to NVIDIA’s woes.

Responding to these negative changes, the DePIN market has experienced significant declines today, mirroring the downturn in traditional AI stocks like NVIDIA and AMD.

ProjectTokenPrice (USD)24h ChangeBittensorTAO$231.21-2.80%RenderRNDR$3.64-8.70%io.netIO$0.57-7.50%AIOZ NetworkAIOZ$0.25-9.31%Akash NetworkAKT$1.04-6.22%

These declines reflect broader market sentiment, as investors react to the NVIDIA ban’s implications for GPU supply and costs, which are critical for DePIN operations. The parallel downturn in DePIN tokens and traditional stocks underscores the interconnected risks across AI infrastructure markets.

Learn more: Binance Low Performance Impacts Severely on Investors’ Belief

A Silver Lining? Trump’s Push for U.S. Chip Production

On the sidelines, Trump has vowed to fast-track permits for domestic chip manufacturing following NVIDIA’s announcement of a $500 billion plan to build AI supercomputers and chips in the U.S. This initiative aims to reduce reliance on Asian supply chains and bolster U.S. technological leadership. While promising for long-term domestic production, the plan faces significant hurdles, including high costs and a shortage of skilled labor. 

Therefore, in the short term, it does little to alleviate the immediate supply chain disruptions impacting AI and DePIN projects. AI DePIN projects must navigate a turbulent landscape to maintain their edge, while the broader AI industry grapples with the fallout of geopolitical trade wars.



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Pacific Spirit: Vinyl Meets Code in a Groundbreaking Generative Drop on Art Blocks | NFT CULTURE | NFT News | Web3 Culture | NFTs & Crypto Art

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Pacific Spirit: Vinyl Meets Code in a Groundbreaking Generative Drop on Art Blocks | NFT CULTURE | NFT News | Web3 Culture | NFTs & Crypto Art


When the analog warmth of vinyl collides with digital innovation, you get a truly collectible fusion of music, art, and algorithmic design

On April 25th, a beautifully experimental cross-medium collaboration will come to life with the release of Pacific Spirit, a generative art and vinyl fusion from visual artist and friend of NFTCulture, Emily Nicoll (@enicoll) and Canadian electronic music producer 747 (Ryan Chan). Hosted on Art Blocks Studio, this drop fuses code, sound, and physical media—resulting in a collection that’s as tactile as it is collectible.

Every NFT minted will serve as the unique vinyl sleeve for Pacific Spirit, the forthcoming 2×12” album from 747. That’s right: collectors not only receive a one-of-a-kind generative artwork, but also a matching physical record featuring that exact artwork as its cover. This isn’t just another digital drop—it’s a multimedia experience and a love letter to analog culture through the lens of blockchain innovation.

 The Sonic Landscape: 747’s Pacific Spirit

Known for his signature acid techno (most notably Aurora Centralis), 747 is a pillar of the global underground, delivering emotionally rich electronic music with analog heart. With Pacific Spirit, his second studio album released via Aquaregia, 747 moves into fluid, dreamy territory, incorporating jungle breaks, ambient textures, and intricate rhythmic design.

The album’s name and tone are drawn from the natural world and urban edge of British Columbia, particularly the west side of Vancouver where 747 grew up. That emotional geography becomes the bedrock for the visuals—artworks that feel like they were listened into existence.

Code as Canvas: Enicoll’s Generative Vision

Our community knows and loves @enicoll for her thoughtful, emotionally resonant work—and this marks her first foray into on-chain generative art. Built in p5.js, her algorithm weaves together hand-drawn aesthetics, wave-inspired motion, and typographic fragments into pieces that echo both sonic energy and landscape memory.

Visual Highlights:

Stroke forms that channel the energy of audio waveforms

Lettering from “PACIFIC SPIRIT” and “747,” scribbled in system fonts and hand styles

Color palettes grounded in British Columbia geography:

Pacific Spirit – Skyline and sea (default, ~50%)

Camosun Bog – Earthy wetlands

Sea to Sky – Pastel blues and high-altitude calm

Second Narrows – Industrial greys with tension

Layout Modes:

Wave – Most common (~40%), echoing both water and sound

Scatter, Radial, Grid, Concentric – Each with its own rhythm and compositional logic

One ultra-fun trait, dubbed “acid”, appears in just 3.03% of pieces and features smiley faces as a playful nod to the Roland TB-303—the beating heart of acid music.

 Mint One, Get One: Digital Art + Physical Vinyl

Each minted artwork comes with a 2×12″ vinyl copy of the Pacific Spirit album, printed with the artwork you minted as the record sleeve. This creates a personal, tangible bond between the collector and the artist—a fusion of code, identity, and sound.

Any unminted pieces (up to 300 total) will be printed and shipped to record shops around the world through Triple Vision Record Distribution, expanding the reach of this generative series far beyond the blockchain.

 Art Blocks Meets Aquaregia: New Frontiers in Art & Music

With Art Blocks providing the technical infrastructure and Aquaregia setting the sonic tone, this drop hits at the sweet spot of innovation and emotional storytelling. It’s a pioneering model for what’s possible when blockchain technology meets physical art forms—and it shows how generative art can evolve into something personal, playable, and permanent.

TL;DR:

Pacific Spirit is a generative art and vinyl collaboration by music producer 747 and NFTCulture’s friend Emily Nicoll, releasing April 25 on Art Blocks. Each NFT also serves as the cover for a 2×12” vinyl copy of the album—shipped directly to collectors. It’s a code-based reflection of acid-infused electronica and BC landscapes, packed with rare traits and built-in nostalgia.

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Binance Will List Initia (INIT) on Pre-market Future Contract

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Binance Will List Initia (INIT) on Pre-market Future Contract


Binance has introduced the launch of Initia (INIT) on the pre-market of the perpetual market.

Listing Details

Token name: INIT (Initia)Pre-market open date: 2025-04-16 06:30 (UTC)Capped funding rate: +2.00% / -2.00%Maximum leverage: 5x

Do note that INIT is only able to be traded on the perpetual contract of the pre-market on Binance.

binance-logo-2

About Initia (INIT)

Initia is an innovative blockchain project, aiming to address multichain fragmentation and simplify decentralized application (dApp) development. Built on the Cosmos SDK, Initia integrates Layer 1 (L1) and Layer 2 (L2) technologies to create a scalable, interoperable ecosystem called the “Interwoven Economy.” Its architecture supports multiple virtual machines (MoveVM, WasmVM, EVM) and enables developers to launch application-specific rollups, known as Minitias, with rapid block times (500ms) and high throughput (10,000 TPS).

Learn more: Initia Price Prediction: Pre & Post-TGE Pathway

Backed by major investors like Binance Labs, Delphi Ventures, and Hack VC, Initia has raised over $24 million to advance its vision of a unified multichain network.

The native token, $INIT, is central to the ecosystem, serving multiple functions. It covers transaction fees across L1 and L2 and supports staking for network security and rewards. Besides, it also acilitates governance through voting, and provides liquidity via the Enshrined Liquidity model.

Initia allocates 5% of its 1 billion token supply (50 million INIT) for an airdrop to reward early testnet participants, community contributors, and ecosystem partners. Initia’s mainnet launch, expected in 2025, aims to drive scalability and developer adoption.



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PI Coin Price Climbs, Stellar Price Analysis, But BlockDAG’s 600% Bonus

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PI Coin Price Climbs, Stellar Price Analysis, But BlockDAG’s 600% Bonus


As crypto investors scan the market for high-upside opportunities, attention has turned to a mix of emerging projects and familiar tokens. The PI coin price has started to show early strength, driven by community momentum and renewed interest in mobile mining adoption. At the same time, Stellar (XLM) price analysis reveals signs of a potential breakout as on-chain activity spikes and key technical indicators align. But while both assets offer promising narratives, BlockDAG has established itself as the leading crypto to buy now, combining a 600% presale bonus with an already confirmed 2,380% surge. With $214 million raised, a live Beta Testnet, and major events like the 7th AMA and Global Convention ahead, BlockDAG is rewriting what investor returns look like in 2025.

PI Coin Price Builds Momentum with Speculative Growth

The PI coin price has climbed steadily as more users engage with the app-based ecosystem and anticipate a listing event. Analysts expect that the PI coin price could reach levels between $0.15 and $2.58, depending on the success of its transition to open mainnet trading. This growth trajectory has created excitement among early adopters, who’ve supported the project through years of development and mobile-based mining.

The current trend in the PI coin price reflects speculative accumulation, with millions of users holding balances they mined over time. While critics point to a lack of exchange availability, supporters remain bullish on its long-term appeal. As new use cases and marketplaces roll out in tandem with network expansion, the PI coin price may continue to climb—though actual gains depend on execution post-listing. Still, for some retail investors, it’s among the more interesting names when debating the leading crypto to buy now.

PI Coin Price Builds Momentum with Speculative Growth

Stellar (XLM) Price Analysis Signals a 50% Breakout Setup

Recent Stellar (XLM) price analysis shows the token entering a potentially bullish phase, with patterns suggesting a 50% move could be on the horizon. The asset recently bounced from $0.11 to $0.13 and may target the $0.20 range if volume sustains. Analysts cite the formation of a falling wedge, often seen as a precursor to upside breakouts.

What strengthens the Stellar (XLM) price analysis further is the surge in on-chain transactions and wallet activity. The network recorded over 1.4 million active addresses recently, a strong metric that reflects actual user engagement. These fundamentals, combined with strategic partnerships like MoneyGram and real-world utility in cross-border payments, give Stellar staying power.

Stellar (XLM) Price Analysis Signals a 50% Breakout SetupStellar (XLM) Price Analysis Signals a 50% Breakout Setup

However, the Stellar (XLM) price analysis also acknowledges the token’s struggle to break past long-standing resistance levels. With its price stuck in a multi-month range, some traders are exploring alternatives when deciding on the leading crypto to buy now.

BlockDAG: 600% Bonus, $214M Raise, and the Leading Crypto to Buy Now

While PI and Stellar offer optimism, BlockDAG is delivering concrete results. With a confirmed 2,380% surge in presale value, it’s the project making headlines for the right reasons. Over $214 million has been raised, placing BlockDAG among the most successful presales of 2025.

The engine behind this success? A hybrid architecture combining DAG scalability with Proof-of-Work security, enabling up to 15,000+ transactions per second. That tech is now live through the Beta Testnet, allowing users to engage in real-time and earn from the ongoing $60,000 reward campaign.

For those looking to buy in, the limited-time 600% Golden Ticket bonus (promo code BDAG1200) is still active, making it one of the most lucrative entry points in the market. Investors who enter now aren’t just getting tokens at a fraction of future listing prices—they’re securing allocation ahead of major upcoming milestones.

BlockDAG: 600% Bonus, $214M Raise, and the Leading Crypto to Buy NowBlockDAG: 600% Bonus, $214M Raise, and the Leading Crypto to Buy Now

The project’s visibility is also growing rapidly. The 7th AMA, scheduled for April 17, will cover topics like mainnet readiness, exchange listings, and dev grants. Additionally, new users who join now will be given early access to the upcoming BlockDAG Global Convention, set to launch in key locations worldwide. These high-profile events are designed to onboard both institutional investors and developers, ensuring a robust post-launch ecosystem.

Compared to the uncertain timeline around the PI coin price or the waiting game in Stellar (XLM) price analysis, BlockDAG offers immediacy, momentum, and massive upside potential. The combination of technical proof, presale growth, and multi-level community engagement is why many now consider it the leading crypto to buy now.

Final Word: The Winner Is Clear

The PI coin price is rising, and Stellar (XLM) price analysis suggests bullish momentum. But when comparing opportunity, upside, and execution, only one project checks every box. BlockDAG, with its 600% bonus, $214M raised, and live testnet, isn’t speculating on future success—it’s building it right now. For crypto enthusiasts scanning the market for the leading crypto to buy now, the decision is no longer theoretical. BlockDAG is outperforming peers in growth, delivery, and community incentives—and it’s still early.

Final Word: The Winner Is ClearFinal Word: The Winner Is Clear

Join BlockDAG Presale Now:

Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network

Website: https://blockdag.network

Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu



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NFT Trader Faces Prison After Hiding $13M in CryptoPunks Profits – Cryptoflies News

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NFT Trader Faces Prison After Hiding M in CryptoPunks Profits – Cryptoflies News


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A non-fungible token (NFT) trader could face up to six years in prison after admitting he underreported nearly $13 million in income from selling CryptoPunks.

According to a statement released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on April 11, Waylon Wilcox, 45, pleaded guilty to two counts of filing false individual income tax returns.

Federal prosecutors said Wilcox failed to report more than $8.5 million in income on his 2021 tax return. This resulted in an unpaid tax bill of about $2.18 million. 

He also underreported nearly $4.6 million in income on his 2022 tax return, lowering his tax due by roughly $1.09 million.

Wilcox earned most of this money by buying and selling 97 CryptoPunks NFTs over two years. In 2021, he sold about 62 NFTs, earning around $7.4 million. In 2022, he sold 35 more for approximately $4.9 million.

You Might Be Interested In

Authorities said Wilcox falsely claimed on his 2021 tax return that he had no financial activity involving virtual currency. The form asked, “At any time in 2021, did you receive, sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of financial interest in any virtual currency?” He marked “no.” He gave the same false answer in 2022.

Wilcox entered his guilty plea in Cumberland County on October 10, 2023. Under federal law, the maximum sentence for the offenses includes up to six years in prison, supervised release, and a fine.



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MEXC 7th Anniversary: Celebrate, Trade & Earn Big!

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MEXC 7th Anniversary: Celebrate, Trade & Earn Big!


Keep your crypto wallets ready—MEXC is hosting a grand 7th anniversary celebration featuring a staggering prize pool of up to 10M USDT! The “Celebra7e MEXC” event is live, and with only 20 days left, it’s time to jump in, trade like a pro, and snag your share of the rewards. Whether you’re a newbie or a trading titan, this showdown offers epic prizes through team battles, mystery boxes, and solo leaderboards. Are you prepared to achieve significant cryptocurrency gains? Let’s dive into the action!

How to Join the Event

Get in on the fun with these simple steps and a ticking clock, as detailed information is below.

Time Allowed for this Campaign

The general time for this campaign is from April 7 to May 4, 2025 with the detailed milestones for each activity as below:

The competition kicked off on April 13, 2025, at 23:00 UTC and wrapped up on May 4, 2025, at 22:59 UTC.

Team leader registration for sharing 20% of the team prize pool closed on April 13, 2025, at 15:29 UTC

Meanwhile, team members can join until May 4, 2025, at 15:55 UTC.

Don’t miss the lucky draw from May 4 to May 7, 2025!

Time Allowed for this Campaign

Source: MEXC

Steps to Join

To join and receive up to 500,000 USDT in the prize pool, users need to follow these steps:

Sign up on MEXC and ensure your Futures wallet has at least 100 USDT (excluding bonuses).

Join or create a team—public or private—before May 4, 2025, 23:59 UTC.

Trade Futures pairs (non-zero fee rates, excluding stablecoin pairs like USDCUSDT).

Rack up trading volume (minimum 200,000 USDT for team rewards, 20,000 USDT for solo).

Besides, users can collect Mystery Fragments and share the total prize pool of 8000,000 USDT by doing daily tasks such as: 

Reach a 0-fee trading volume of 30,000 USDT, and a standard-fee trading volume of 30,000 USDTDo Futures trades equivalent to 50,000 USDTDo Spot trades equivalent to 50,000 USDTDo Futures Trading Volume Task equal to several milestones: 300,000 USDT, 600,000 USDT, 1,000,000 USDT,Daily Trading Volume Ranking: Top 200 users trading at least 4,000,000 USDT receive rewards based on percentage allocation.Individual PNL Ranking: Top 100 users share 10% of the 10,000,000 USDT total prize pool.

MEXC_square_logo-removebg-previewMEXC_square_logo-removebg-preview

Terms and Conditions

Here’s the juicy stuff—prizes and rules to keep it fair:

Prizes:

Total pool scales with participation: 2M USDT unlocked now, up to 10M USDT if 200,000 users join!

Team PNL Rate: Top 10 teams split 500,000 USDT (e.g., 1st place gets 100,000 USDT).

Mystery Fragments: Forge boxes for up to 800,000 USDT in random rewards (max 7,777 USDT per box).

Leaderboard Battle: Top solo traders share 700,000 USDT based on daily volume and PNL.

Loyal users can grab up to 100 USDT in bonus rewards!

Rules:

Teams need at least 10 members; fewer, and you’re reassigned.

No team-switching after registration closes.

Only Futures trades with fees count; wash trading or multiple accounts lead to disqualification.

Rewards (USDT bonuses/vouchers) are valid for 7 days and distributed within 3 days post-event.

KYC isn’t required for most rewards, except the “Returning User Gift Pack.”

MEXC can tweak rules or boot cheaters—full terms.

About MEXC

MEXC is your crypto playground, serving over 36 million users in 170+ countries since 2018. Known for low fees, a huge token selection, and daily airdrops, it’s a haven for traders of all levels. From spot to futures to DeFi, MEXC’s secure, user-friendly platform makes crypto trading a breeze. This 7th anniversary extravaganza proves MEXC’s all about innovation and rewarding its community. Join the party, trade hard, and celebrate with MEXC!



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Magic Eden Acquires Slingshot to Expand Beyond NFTs

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Magic Eden Acquires Slingshot to Expand Beyond NFTs


Popular NFT marketplace Magic Eden has acquired crypto trading app Slingshot in a move that signals a strategic shift beyond digital collectibles. The acquisition will give Magic Eden users direct access to over five million tokens across more than ten blockchains—without the need for bridges or centralised exchanges.

Slingshot will continue to operate as a standalone app for now, but further integration with Magic Eden is expected. No immediate changes to the user experience have been announced, though support for Bitcoin-native tokens is reportedly on the horizon.

Magic Eden’s leadership indicated the move is part of a longer-term effort to simplify crypto trading across networks and asset types.

Magic Eden Acquires Slingshot to Expand Beyond NFTs Source: Slingshot

What is Slingshot?

Slingshot is a decentralised crypto trading application that enables users to swap tokens across multiple blockchains without needing to bridge assets or rely on centralised platforms.

The app supports trading across more than ten blockchain networks using a single USDC balance, offering access to millions of tokens. With an estimated user base approaching one million, Slingshot has gained recognition for its emphasis on ease of use and multi-chain functionality.

It has aimed to streamline token discovery and trading by removing common friction points, such as network switching and gas fee management.

Magic Eden Acquires Slingshot to Expand Beyond NFTs
Magic Eden Acquires Slingshot to Expand Beyond NFTs Source: Magic Eden

What does this acquisition mean for Magic Eden?

For Magic Eden, the acquisition of Slingshot represents a step away from its original focus as an NFT-only platform. Whilst it will continue to support NFT trading, the company appears to be repositioning itself as a more comprehensive web3 trading hub.

“This acquisition is a major step forward in advancing the Magic Eden vision, which is to provide users worldwide with a seamless and safe way to buy and sell crypto and digital assets across all chains,” said Jack Lu, CEO and Co-Founder of Magic Eden.

By integrating token trading into its ecosystem, Magic Eden is likely to broaden its appeal to a wider segment of crypto users—particularly those seeking a unified interface for both NFTs and fungible tokens.  Although the platforms will operate independently for now, the long-term plan appears to involve closer technical and product alignment.



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Huge $TRUMP Memecoin Supply is about to Unlock

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Huge $TRUMP Memecoin Supply is about to Unlock


$TRUMP meme coin will implement the next major unlock this week, estimated on April 18. This event has captured significant attention from investors with both interest and caution.

20% Unlock for $TRUMP: Negative Price Impact?

About $TRUMP Meme Coin

Launched on January 18, 2025, by then President-elect Donald Trump, $TRUMP is a Solana-based memecoin promoted as a digital asset embodying “community values and winning.” Leveraging Solana’s high-speed, low-cost infrastructure, it quickly gained traction among new crypto investors, particularly those entering the altcoin market for the first time. The token was listed on major exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, and Robinhood on January 19. Following its debut, $TRUMP surged to an all-time high (ATH) of $74.59 on January 21, reflecting intense market interest. However, it has since faced volatility, dropping significantly from its peak due to market dynamics and external factors.

The $TRUMP token TRUMP has already experienced significant price swings since its launch. After peaking at $74.59 on January 21, shortly following its debut, the token has seen a steep decline. As of writing time, $TRUMP has dropped approximately 88% from its all-time high, a trend exacerbated by external factors such as Donald Trump’s tariff announcements recently.

Unlock Event for $TRUMP: Expected Price Impact

Source: Coingecko

Recent Unlock this Week

This week marks a significant milestone for the $TRUMP meme coin as it gears up for a major unlock event on April 18, 2025.

According to a recent update from Cointelegraph, 40 million $TRUMP tokens—equivalent to 20% of its current circulating supply—will be released into the market. This amount is equal to approximately $330 million based on current prices.

Unlock Event for $TRUMP: Expected Price ImpactUnlock Event for $TRUMP: Expected Price Impact

Source: Tokenomist

This unlock is part of a structured release plan, with the next unlock events occurring over the next 24 months, aiming to unlock the remaining 80% of the total 1 billion tokens (currently locked). Such a substantial influx of tokens will likely increase market supply, potentially exerting downward pressure on the token’s price unless demand surges to match the new availability. Historically, token unlocks have often led to volatility, as investors may sell off to secure profits, especially in the speculative meme coin space.

Political Memecoins and Price Manipulation Risk

The $TRUMP unlock event also reignites broader concerns about the risks associated with political meme coins. These tokens, often tied to high-profile figures, are particularly susceptible to market manipulation and rug pulls—scams where creators artificially inflate a token’s value before abandoning the project and absconding with investors’ funds.

CIC Digital LLC, a Trump Organization affiliate, and Fight Fight Fight LLC, a recently anonymously owned incorporated business from Delaware, hold 80% of $TRUMP tokens, though the split between them remains unnamed. This action has sparked debates about transparency and potential foreign influence in the memecoin market. Critics argue that such allocations could enable price manipulation, highlighting the need for stricter regulatory oversight in this volatile sector.

A parallel example in the political meme coin space is the $MELANIA token, launched on January 19, 2025, which also undergoes an unlock event this week.

Political Memecoins Under ScrutinyPolitical Memecoins Under Scrutiny

Source: Tokenomist

Like $TRUMP, $MELANIA has attracted significant attention but has not been without controversy. Earlier this year, the token faced allegations of market manipulation, along with meme coin LIBRA, after security firm F.A.C.C.T. uncovered over ten fake websites targeting $MELANIA investors, leading to substantial losses for some. The incident underscores the vulnerability of politically themed meme coins to scams, as their hype-driven nature often makes them prime targets for fraudsters exploiting investor enthusiasm.

Read more: Political Memecoins: A Repeating Pattern of Boom and Bust

As the April 18 unlock approaches, $TRUMP holders are bracing for potential price fluctuations. While the token’s strong community support—bolstered by Trump’s political following—may cushion some of the impact, the broader memecoin market remains a high-risk arena. Investors should approach with caution, diversifying their portfolios and staying vigilant for signs of manipulation or scams, as the political meme coin trend continues to evolve.





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Mantra Disastrous Meltdown: $5.5 Billion Vanishes Overnight in Collapse Echoing Luna Disaster

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Mantra Disastrous Meltdown: .5 Billion Vanishes Overnight in Collapse Echoing Luna Disaster


In just two hours on April 13, 2025, Mantra’s native token OM lost more than 90% of its value – a crash that echoed the infamous Luna collapse and now stands as one of the most severe price meltdowns in crypto history.

About Mantra, it’s a Layer 1 blockchain project with OM as its native token. In February 2025, OM experienced a parabolic rally, surging from $5 to a peak of $8.99.

From Asia’s Promising Project to a Luna-Style Meltdown

According to data from CoinMarketCap and TradingView, OM began to plummet from $6.33 on the evening of April 13 to around $0.40 in less than two hours— a nearly 94% drop.

As a result, Mantra’s market capitalization evaporated by nearly $5.5 billion, falling from $6 billion to just $500 million.

“I haven’t seen a crash of this speed and scale since the LUNA collapse,” one trader commented on X.

From Asia’s Promising Project to a Luna-Style Meltdown

OM crashed in 2 hours – Source: CoinGecko

On-chain data revealed that a personal wallet transferred approximately 3.9 million OM tokens to the OKX exchange just before the crash occurred. The community now suspects the wallet belongs to an insider from the project.

Additionally, according to a report from BeInCrypto, the Mantra team was involved in undisclosed over-the-counter (OTC) transactions, allegedly selling tokens at discounts of up to 50% compared to market prices.

“MANTRA has a highly centralized token distribution structure, with over 85% of the total supply held by the team and strategic investors. An internal sell-off could easily trigger a domino effect,” Lookonchain commented.

The incident sparked strong backlash against the Mantra team. Some social media users began digging into the team’s past, pointing out that WuBlockchain had previously warned that certain key members of the project were allegedly linked to the online gambling platform 21Pink.

There were also claims that MANTRA once stated it had received investment from FTX, a statement later publicly denied by the now-defunct exchange.

“Not Our Fault”: Mantra Points at Exchanges After 94% OM Collapse

Shortly after OM’s dramatic plunge, Mantra co-founder John Patrick Mullin issued a public statement in an attempt to calm the community. 

Posting on his personal account, Mullin firmly denied any involvement from the core team, the MANTRA Chain Association, or internal investors in the sell-off. He emphasized that all tokens remain locked under the publicly disclosed vesting schedule and that all project-related wallets are fully transparent and trackable.

Mullin claimed that centralized exchanges (CEXes) triggered forced liquidations during a period of low market liquidity—specifically late Sunday UTC.

“The timing and depth of the drop point to an unexpected position closure with no warnings or prior notice. Such an incident highlights a lack of oversight by centralized exchanges and may reflect an intentional attempt to dominate the market,” Mullin stated.

He added “We are actively working with our exchange partners – entities that hold significant control. But when such power is misused, events like this will continue to happen.”

Mantra also announced a community AMA on X to further clarify the incident. The project warned users to avoid clicking on suspicious links, as scammers are attempting to exploit the situation.

Notably, Binance – one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges and the current listing venue for OM, issued an official statement confirming that it is closely monitoring the ongoing developments surrounding MANTRA. In a notice today, Binance stated that it may suspend trading, delist the token, or apply other risk management measures to protect users if it detects serious violations related to transparency or false listing disclosures.

Given the extreme price volatility, disrupted liquidity, and unresolved concerns, analysts urge investors to trade OM cautiously to avoid unnecessary financial risks.

This dramatic collapse also sparked an unexpectedly ironic twist, dragging a completely unrelated project with a similar name – Manta, into the crossfire. Manta’s co-founder publicly clarified that their project has no affiliation whatsoever with Mantra after confusion spread due to the similar names.

Conclusion

The team attributes the crash to external liquidations, but on-chain activity and OTC deal reports have fueled community skepticism.

With its tokenomics under scrutiny and trust in the project rattled, Mantra’s path forward hinges on transparency, swift communication, and structural reform. It remains unclear whether this marks a temporary setback or signals the start of a deeper unraveling.

Read more: NFTs on Monad Are Exploding: +2,000% Gains in Weeks





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