Block Lore

Cryptocurrency

Solana Stablecoins Hit $10B Record: DeFi and Memecoins Fuel Surge

The Solana blockchain is experiencing a surge in stablecoin activity, with the total supply surpassing $10 billion for the first time. This rapid growth, fueled by a nearly 110% increase since the beginning of January, highlights the expanding use of stablecoins within Solana's burgeoning DeFi ecosystem and the

Regulation

Trump’s Memecoin TRUMP Sparks Conflict of Interest Debate Between Congress and Crypto Czar

The introduction of President Donald Trump’s memecoin, TRUMP, has ignited a heated debate within the U.S. political and cryptocurrency communities. While David Sacks, the White House’s first-ever AI and Crypto Czar, downplays concerns, members of Congress argue that the token represents a significant conflict of interest. David

Cryptocurrency

Solana DeFi TVL Jumps 600%: Memecoins & New Projects Drive Growth

Solana's decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem is experiencing explosive growth, with its total value locked (TVL) skyrocketing to $9.77 billion, a 600% increase from just $1.4 billion a year ago. This remarkable surge, partially driven by the buzz surrounding memecoins and the arrival of high-profile projects, positions

Markets

Trump Declares U.S. as Future "World Capital of AI and Crypto" at Davos Forum

President Donald Trump has reaffirmed his commitment to positioning the United States at the forefront of technological innovation, declaring it the "world capital" of both artificial intelligence (AI) and cryptocurrency. Speaking via livestream at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Trump outlined his administration’s strategic initiatives

Opinion

Crypto VC Funding to Rebound in 2025, JPMorgan Says - But No 2021 Boom

The cryptocurrency venture capital (VC) market is expected to see a resurgence in 2025, but it likely won't reach the dizzying heights of the 2021-2022 boom, according to a new report from JPMorgan. While improved regulatory clarity in the U.S. and Europe is a positive sign, analysts

Innovation

Binance Founder CZ Joins YZi Labs, Eyes Crypto, AI, and Biotech

Changpeng "CZ" Zhao, the founder and former CEO of Binance, is stepping into an "active role" at YZi Labs, the newly rebranded venture firm formerly known as Binance Labs. This move follows Zhao's recent four-month prison sentence in the U.S. on money laundering

Opinion

XRP Price Momentum Builds Amid Speculation of CME Futures Launch

XRP's price is showing signs of potential growth, fueled by technical chart patterns and speculation surrounding a possible futures launch by the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group. While the CME has clarified that no official decision has been made, the rumors have nonetheless contributed to market enthusiasm. XRP

Opinion

Bitcoin Price Could Hit $200K, But Altcoin Season Might be Muted: StanChart Report

Standard Chartered's Global Head of Digital Assets Research, Geoff Kendrick, predicts a potential surge in Bitcoin's price to $200,000 by the end of 2025, driven by a wave of institutional investment. However, this institutional dominance could also mean a less pronounced "altcoin season"

Cryptocurrency

Kidnapped Ledger Exec Freed; Crypto Ransom Demand in France

David Balland, a co-founder of the prominent French cryptocurrency hardware wallet company Ledger SAS, has been freed after being kidnapped from his home in central France. The Paris prosecutor's office confirmed his release on Wednesday night following a police operation. The kidnappers had demanded a substantial ransom in

Finance

Buterin-Backed Startup Etherealize to Sell Ethereum to Wall Street

While Bitcoin has been stealing the spotlight, a new startup called Etherealize is aiming to remind Wall Street of Ethereum's unique strengths. Founded by former bond trader Vivek Raman, and backed by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and the Ethereum Foundation, Etherealize seeks to market Ethereum as the go-to

Regulation

Crypto-Focused Leadership Takes Shape at CFTC Under Interim Chief Pham

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) is undergoing a significant leadership shakeup, signaling a potential shift in the agency's approach to cryptocurrencies. Acting Chair Caroline Pham, recently appointed by the incoming administration, has named Harry Jung as Acting Chief of Staff, tasking him with leading the

Blockchain

Ethereum Layer 2 Corn Raises $8.3M to Integrate Bitcoin into DeFi

Corn, a new Ethereum Layer 2 network with ambitions to integrate Bitcoin into the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem, has raised $8.3 million in a community-focused funding round. This unique approach, which saw both venture capital firms and individual investors participate on equal terms, highlights the growing interest in bridging

Opinion

Ross Ulbricht: From Silk Road Founder to Bitcoin Icon Pardoned by President Trump

Ross Ulbricht: From Silk Road Founder to Bitcoin Icon Pardoned by President Trump Ross William Ulbricht, the enigmatic founder of the notorious Silk Road marketplace, has been granted an unconditional pardon by President Donald Trump. This decision not only marks a significant moment in Ulbricht’s tumultuous journey but also

DeFi

Tokenization Boom: Real-World Assets on Blockchain Reach $7.3 Billion

The total value locked (TVL) in real-world asset (RWA) protocols has surged to $7.3 billion, marking a remarkable increase of over 200% in the past year. This growth is largely fueled by a significant shift towards government securities protocols, reflecting a growing appetite for regulated, lower-risk digital assets within

DeFi

Solana's DEX Volume Soars Beyond Ethereum, Driven by TRUMP Token Hype

Solana’s decentralized exchanges (DEXs) have experienced an extraordinary surge in trading volumes this January, propelled by the excitement surrounding the Original Trump (TRUMP) memecoin. This remarkable uptick has enabled Solana to surpass Ethereum in DEX activity, signaling a significant shift in the cryptocurrency landscape. Unprecedented Growth in Solana’s

Opinion

Davos: BlackRock's Fink Warns Inflation Remains World's Biggest Risk

Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, is sounding a cautionary note about the global economy, warning that investors may be underestimating the persistence of inflation. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Fink expressed concerns that rising bond yields and steeper prices

DeFi

HTX Ventures: Real-World Assets and Stablecoins Will Power DeFi 2.0

The decentralized finance (DeFi) landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, with real-world assets (RWAs) and stablecoins taking center stage, according to a new report by HTX Ventures, the investment arm of the HTX crypto exchange. The report, titled "A New Era for DeFi with Crypto Compliance and New Opportunities

Markets

Bitcoin Steadies at $105K as Trump’s Pro-Crypto SEC and CFTC Picks Boost Market Confidence

Bitcoin has steadied around the $105,000 mark, with market analysts crediting President Donald Trump’s recent regulatory appointments for easing the volatility seen earlier in the week. The selection of pro-crypto leaders at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has bolstered investor

Markets

XRP Price Up as Investors Await Regulatory Clarity Under President Trump

The cryptocurrency XRP edged higher on Wednesday, reflecting investor optimism amid ongoing uncertainty about regulatory policies under President Donald Trump’s administration. According to data from crypto exchange Kraken, XRP rose by 1.3% to $3.18 over the past 24 hours. In comparison, Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, saw a

Blockchain

Ethereum Layer 2 SOON Raises $22M, Uniting Solana's SVM with Ethereum

A new Ethereum Layer 2 scaling solution called SOON is making waves in the crypto world, raising $22 million in an NFT sale ahead of its mainnet launch. What sets SOON apart is its unique approach: it leverages the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) instead of the more common Ethereum Virtual

Regulation

Hong Kong Drafts Stablecoin Rules to Secure a Crypto Hub Future

Hong Kong's Legislative Council is actively discussing a new bill aimed at regulating stablecoins, a crucial step in the region's ambitious plan to become a leading global hub for the cryptocurrency industry. The proposed legislation, which had its first reading in December, outlines licensing requirements for

Markets

Trump’s Pastor’s Lorenzo Memecoin Crashes 93%, Sparking Criticism in Crypto Community

Detroit-based Reverend Lorenzo Sewell, who delivered a benediction at former President Donald Trump’s inauguration as the 47th president of the United States, has come under fire following the dramatic decline of his self-launched cryptocurrency, Lorenzo. Launched shortly after the inauguration, the memecoin experienced a staggering 93% drop from its

Regulation

Tornado Cash Sanctions Lifted: TORN Token Price Explodes 140%

In a major victory for cryptocurrency privacy advocates, a U.S. District Court has overturned a previous ruling that upheld sanctions against Tornado Cash, a crypto mixing service. The decision, which sent the platform's native token TORN soaring by 140%, hinges on the unique nature of Tornado Cash&

DeFi

$600M Jupuary Airdrop: Jupiter Rewards Solana Users with JUP

Get ready for "Jupuary"! Jupiter, a leading decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregator on the Solana blockchain, is preparing for a massive airdrop today, distributing nearly 700 million JUP tokens, worth a staggering $616 million, to its users. This event marks the second major airdrop from Jupiter, rewarding its active

Cryptocurrency

LINE App Integrates Web3 Dapps to Drive Crypto Adoption in Asia

LINE, one of Asia's most popular messaging apps, is making a major push into the world of Web3 with the launch of its first batch of decentralized applications (Dapps). These "Mini Dapps," accessible directly within the LINE mobile messenger, aim to bring blockchain technology to a