13 May 2025, 14:20

Brave Wallet Unleashes Powerful Cardano Integration

Big news for cryptocurrency enthusiasts! Brave Wallet, the built-in crypto wallet within the privacy-focused Brave Browser, is set to integrate the Cardano blockchain. This move significantly expands Brave’s multichain support and offers users a seamless way to interact with the Cardano ecosystem directly from their browser. Why is Brave Wallet’s Cardano Integration a Game Changer? For years, managing cryptocurrencies has often required separate applications or browser extensions. Brave Wallet aims to simplify this by offering a secure, native solution. The upcoming Cardano integration means users will soon be able to manage their ADA tokens and other Cardano-native assets without needing third-party tools. This is a major step towards making decentralized finance (DeFi) and blockchain interaction more accessible and secure for Brave’s large user base. Integrating Cardano brings several key benefits: Direct ADA Management: Easily send, receive, and store ADA within your Brave Wallet. Cardano-Native Assets: Support for tokens and assets issued on the Cardano blockchain. Enhanced Security: Managing assets within the browser’s native wallet can reduce risks associated with malicious extensions. Access to Governance: Participate in Cardano’s decentralized governance features directly from the wallet. Simplified Transactions: Sign Cardano transactions seamlessly within the Brave Browser environment. How Does This Fit into Brave’s Multichain Vision? Brave isn’t new to supporting multiple blockchains. Brave Wallet already provides native support for Ethereum and Solana, two other major players in the blockchain space. Adding Cardano, one of the largest proof-of-stake networks, is a strategic move that broadens the types of decentralized applications (dApps) and assets users can interact with. This focus on multichain support is crucial as the crypto landscape becomes increasingly interconnected. By integrating multiple prominent chains, Brave positions its crypto wallet as a central hub for users navigating different blockchain ecosystems. This reduces the need for users to juggle multiple wallets or interfaces, creating a more unified and user-friendly experience. It’s about giving users flexibility and choice within a secure, privacy-preserving browser environment. What Does This Mean for ADA Wallet Users? Existing ADA wallet users will find the Brave Wallet integration a convenient alternative. Instead of relying on standalone desktop wallets or browser extensions that might raise security concerns, they can manage their ADA directly within a browser known for its privacy and security features. This native integration means tighter security protocols and a smoother user experience for managing Cardano assets. Furthermore, integrating governance features is a significant plus. Cardano relies on community participation for its development and future direction. Enabling users to vote on proposals directly through their Brave Wallet makes participation more accessible and encourages greater decentralization. Actionable Insights for Brave and Cardano Users For current Brave Browser users interested in Cardano, this integration makes dipping your toes into the ADA ecosystem incredibly easy. You won’t need to download separate software; simply update your Brave Browser when the feature rolls out. For existing Cardano holders, consider exploring Brave Wallet as a potential new interface for managing your assets, especially if you value privacy and integrated browser experiences. Keep an eye on official announcements from Brave for the exact release date and detailed instructions on how to set up and use the Cardano features within your Brave Wallet . This development underscores the growing trend of browsers integrating native crypto functionalities, aiming to onboard more users into the decentralized web in a user-friendly manner. Concluding Thoughts: A Strong Step for Brave and Cardano The integration of Cardano into Brave Wallet is a significant development for both ecosystems. It enhances Brave’s position as a leading privacy browser with robust multichain support and provides Cardano users with another secure and convenient option for managing their assets and participating in governance. As the blockchain world continues to evolve, native browser integrations like this are likely to play a crucial role in driving mainstream adoption. To learn more about the latest crypto wallet trends, explore our article on key developments shaping multichain support institutional adoption .

13 May 2025, 14:18

BNB Chain Foundation Completes New Rounds of Asset Purchases Under Its $100M Incentive Program

Dubai, UAE, May 13th, 2025, Chainwire The BNB Chain Foundation has executed two new rounds of token purchases as part of its ongoing $100M Incentive Program, which supports qualified projects building on the BNB Chain. Details of Recent Purchases: A total of $100,000 has been used to acquire $SKYAI in four transactions of $25,000 each: Transaction 1 Transaction 2 Transaction 3 Transaction 4 $25,000 purchase from $AIOT : Transaction . $25,000 purchase from $TST : Transaction . Tokens Purchased to Date: The BNB Chain Foundation wallet has purchased tokens from five tokens: Broccoli (714) TST Mubarak (6f6) AIOT SKYAI The BNB Chain Foundation wallet address is: 0x511dfe9e248c887e32ca8bf9d1cb76f101965060. Transaction history can be viewed here . Further announcements will be made on X as the BNB Chain Foundation continues deploying capital to support high-potential projects on BNB Chain. About BNB Chain BNB Chain is a community-driven blockchain ecosystem that is removing barriers to Web3 adoption. It is composed of: BNB Smart Chain (BSC) : A secure DeFi hub with the lowest gas fees of any EVM-compatible L1; serves as the ecosystem’s governance chain. opBNB : A scalability L2 that delivers some of the lowest gas fees of any L2 and rapid processing speeds. BNB Greenfield : Meets decentralized storage needs for the ecosystem and lets users establish their own data marketplaces. Setting a high bar for security, the AvengerDAO community protects BNB Chain users while Red Alarm provides a real-time risk-scanner for Dapps. The ecosystem also offers a range of monetary and ecosystem rewards as part of its Builder Support Program . For more, users can follow BNB Chain on X or start exploring via Dapp library . Contact BNB Chain [email protected]

13 May 2025, 14:05

VanEck Launches $VBILL, a Tokenized U.S. Treasury Fund, on Multiple Blockchains with 24/7 Liquidity

VanEck, a $120 billion asset manager, has launched its first tokenized U.S. Treasury fund, named $VBILL, in collaboration with tokenization firm Securitize. The fund is now available on multiple blockchain networks including Ethereum, Avalanche, Solana, and BNB Chain, with cross-chain interoperability enabled by Wormhole, marking VanEck's entry into the tokenization race. VBILL offers investors on-chain access to short-term U.S. Treasury debt, aiming to provide a secure, transparent, and liquid tool for cash management. The fund provides 24/7 liquidity and real-time settlement. According to Kyle DaCruz, director of digital assets product at VanEck, this move integrates digital assets into mainstream financial markets. VBILL is accessible to qualified investors with a minimum investment of $100,000 on most blockchains, and $1 million on Ethereum. The fund's assets are held by State Street and priced daily using data from Redstone's oracle service. To continue reading this as well as other DeFi and Web3 news, visit us at thedefiant.io

13 May 2025, 14:04

Bitcoin builders defend role of venture capital in layer-2 growth

Venture capital firms remain critical to infrastructure development in the Bitcoin ecosystem, despite pushback from some in the community, according to builders speaking at the Token2049 conference in Dubai. Charlie Yechuan Hu, CEO of Bitcoin layer-2 protocol Bitlayer, shared his insights on venture capital (VC) firms in the Bitcoin ( BTC ) ecosystem. Hu told Cointelegraph that he views many VC firms in the space positively, as they offer support to early ventures that need capital to build infrastructure. “You need developers, you need to open up the whole ecosystem foundation, everything,” Hu said. “You need to pay for the cloud, like AWS or RPCs, all that, servers So, we have to have VC on that.“ Hu argued against the usual Bitcoiner ethos that argues against outsider capital, saying, “It’s difficult to say, okay, let’s do a fair mint, and then have a very successful, healthy treasury, and you have to pay all this stuff.” “It doesn’t work that way,” he said. Related: StarkWare researchers propose smart contracts for Bitcoin with ColliderVM Lightning-only stance sparks debate Not everyone agrees. Mike Jarmuz, a managing partner at Bitcoin venture capital firm Lightning Ventures, told Cointelegraph that Lightning is the only L2 his company has invested in and is interested in. He said, “Anything with a ‘token’ that allows for ‘staking’ and earning some absurd APY interest on your Bitcoin should be avoided.” Jarmuz said that Lightning Network , on the other hand, is growing very quickly and makes Bitcoin transactions instant, nearly free and scalable. Bitcoin Visuals data shows that the Lightning Network has a cumulative capacity across all channels equivalent to almost $452 million at the time of writing. He added: “There is no ‘token’ when using the Lightning network. It’s Bitcoin. That to me is the only real L2, at least as of right now.“ Lightning Network capacity chart. Source: Bitcoin Visuals Jarmuz said that projects not meeting his criteria are “masquerading as useful” while doing nothing for Bitcoin. He claimed that sidechains like the Liquid Network and newer protocols such as e-cash and federations or Ark “are not widely used” but “are at least interesting.” He recognized that those “do not involve a staked token, promising yield,” with projects that have those features, “just waiting for rug pulls and issues.” “We don’t invest in that area,“ he added. Related: Spar supermarket in Switzerland starts accepting Bitcoin payments VCs seen as enablers of Bitcoin growth According to Hu, VCs bring liquidity, resources and experience to new startups while opening “up all the institutional ideas and connections.” He said that those were important additions to Bitlayer’s resources as well, noting that “we wouldn’t have that if those people didn’t invest in us.” He also argued that VCs tend to back long-term infrastructure efforts rather than speculative projects like memecoins or non-fungible tokens. That experience was echoed by Walter Maffione, lead engineer at Lightning Network-based decentralized exchange (DEX) Kaleidoswap, who told Cointelegraph that the protocol started as an open-source project and raised a pre-seed investment from Fulgur Ventures and Bitfinex Ventures. “Those funds were used to pay open-source developers and accelerate protocol development, not to build a token or capture governance rights,“ he said. Hu claimed that VCs have contributed significantly to developing layer-2 scalability solutions, wallets, Bitcoin lending and staking protocols. He added: “All of them are VC-backed, including us. And some of them are listed on top exchanges.” Vikash Singh, principal at Bitcoin VC firm Stillmark, told Cointelegraph that when selecting Bitcoin layer-2 protocols to invest in, they consider demonstrated security and robustness, proliferation and adoption of non-speculative use cases and growth of the application layer. Much like Jarmuz, he said that Stillmark believes that proof-of-work is the superior consensus model. Still, unlike Jarmuz, Singh said proof-of-stake or Byzantine fault-tolerant consensus “may be suitable for Bitcoin sidechains and rollups.” Magazine: ‘Bitcoin layer 2s’ aren’t really L2s at all: Here’s why that matters

13 May 2025, 13:40

Arizona Crypto Bills Face Setback: Governor Vetoes Key Digital Asset Legislation

The world of cryptocurrency is constantly evolving, and its integration into traditional systems, including state governments, is a hot topic. Recent developments in Arizona have put the spotlight on the intersection of state policy and digital assets, as the governor took decisive action regarding several key Arizona crypto bills . What Happened with the Arizona Crypto Bills ? On May 12, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed two significant pieces of legislation that aimed to expand the state’s engagement with digital assets. These vetoes followed an earlier rejection of another crypto-related bill, signaling a cautious approach from the governor’s office towards the rapid integration of cryptocurrencies into state operations and finances. The two bills vetoed on May 12 were: SB 1373: This bill proposed the creation of a Digital Assets Strategic Reserve Fund. The idea was for the state to have a designated place to hold digital assets acquired through means such as law enforcement seizures or legislative appropriations. This would have established a formal mechanism within the state treasury for managing seized or state-owned crypto. SB 1024: This bill sought to enable state agencies to accept payments for fines, taxes, and fees using cryptocurrency. The mechanism would have involved approved third-party providers facilitating the conversion of crypto payments into U.S. dollars before they reached the state’s coffers. This aimed to offer residents and businesses more payment flexibility. These vetoes came after Governor Hobbs had previously vetoed SB 1025 , a bill that would have allowed the state treasury and state retirement systems to invest up to 10% of their funds in Bitcoin (BTC) and other digital assets. Taken together, these actions highlight a clear stance from the governor regarding the state’s direct involvement with digital currencies at this time. Understanding State Crypto Regulation Attempts Arizona isn’t alone in exploring how to incorporate digital assets into state frameworks. Across the United States, state governments are grappling with the opportunities and challenges presented by cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. Efforts range from establishing regulatory clarity and consumer protection laws to exploring the use of blockchain for government records or enabling crypto payments for state services. States are motivated by various factors: Innovation and Economic Growth: Attracting crypto and blockchain businesses by creating a favorable legal and regulatory environment. Efficiency: Using blockchain for streamlined processes, supply chain management, or digital identity. Revenue & Treasury Management: Accepting crypto payments or exploring investment opportunities. Asset Management: Handling seized digital assets effectively, as proposed by Arizona’s SB 1373. However, these efforts are often met with significant hurdles, including: Regulatory uncertainty at the federal level. Volatility of cryptocurrency markets. Security risks associated with digital assets. Lack of technical expertise within state agencies. Concerns about illicit use of cryptocurrencies. The vetoes in Arizona underscore the cautious approach many policymakers are taking when balancing the potential benefits with these inherent risks. The governor’s decision suggests that, for now, the perceived risks of direct state exposure to volatile digital assets or the complexities of managing them outweigh the potential advantages these bills offered. What Does This Mean for Arizona Digital Assets and Businesses? The veto of these bills has immediate implications for the landscape of Arizona digital assets and the businesses operating within the state. While Arizona has been considered relatively friendly to blockchain technology in the past, these vetoes represent a pause, if not a step back, for certain types of state-level crypto adoption. For residents and businesses, the possibility of paying taxes or fees directly with crypto via state-approved providers, as proposed in SB 1024, is now off the table for the foreseeable future under the current administration. This means traditional payment methods remain the standard for state transactions. For the state itself, the veto of SB 1373 means there is no dedicated ‘Digital Assets Strategic Reserve Fund’ yet. The state will need to rely on existing legal frameworks and procedures for handling any digital assets it may acquire through seizures or other means, which may not be specifically tailored for the nuances of crypto. The rejection of SB 1025, the investment bill, indicates that state and retirement funds will not be directly exposed to the volatility of Bitcoin or other digital asset markets based on this legislative push. This aligns with a more conservative investment strategy for public funds, prioritizing stability over potential high growth associated with nascent asset classes. Why Did the Governor Veto Crypto Bills? Potential Reasons While the governor’s explicit, detailed reasons for each veto are typically outlined in official veto letters, common concerns cited by policymakers when rejecting crypto-related legislation include: Market Volatility: The price swings of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are a major concern for managing public funds or accepting payments where value needs to be stable. Regulatory Uncertainty: The lack of a clear and comprehensive federal regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies makes states hesitant to move too far ahead, fearing potential conflicts or the need for constant adjustments. Security Risks: Concerns about cybersecurity, hacking, and the secure storage of digital assets are paramount when state funds or sensitive payment systems are involved. Consumer Protection: Ensuring adequate safeguards are in place for individuals and businesses interacting with the state using crypto. Complexity and Implementation Challenges: Setting up the necessary infrastructure, training staff, and ensuring compliance for handling digital assets can be complex and costly. Illicit Activity Concerns: Worries that cryptocurrencies can be used for money laundering or other illegal activities, and ensuring the state does not inadvertently facilitate this. Given the nature of the vetoed bills – establishing a state fund for digital assets (SB 1373), accepting crypto payments (SB 1024), and investing state funds in crypto (SB 1025) – it is likely that concerns related to volatility, security, and regulatory clarity played a significant role in the governor’s decision to governor veto crypto initiatives. Comparing Arizona’s Approach to Other States Arizona’s cautious stance, highlighted by these vetoes, contrasts with some other states that have taken more aggressive steps in embracing crypto and blockchain. For example: Wyoming: Often cited as a leader, Wyoming has passed numerous laws providing regulatory clarity for digital assets, including defining different categories of tokens and establishing special purpose depository institutions for digital asset businesses. Colorado: Has moved forward with accepting cryptocurrency for state tax payments, though often through third-party services that immediately convert the crypto to fiat currency, limiting the state’s direct exposure to volatility. Texas: Has seen legislative efforts to clarify the legal status of digital assets and attract crypto miners and businesses. Arizona’s recent vetoes suggest it is adopting a more conservative ‘wait and see’ approach compared to states actively positioning themselves as crypto hubs through specific legislation. This doesn’t mean Arizona is against blockchain technology entirely, but rather that direct state financial involvement with volatile assets is being approached with significant caution. The Future of Arizona Crypto Law and Policy Despite the recent vetoes, the conversation around Arizona crypto law is far from over. The fact that these bills made it through the legislature indicates there is significant interest among lawmakers in exploring the potential of digital assets. Future legislative sessions may see revised versions of these bills introduced, potentially addressing the concerns raised by the governor’s office. This could involve: Adding stricter safeguards and security requirements. Proposing pilot programs rather than immediate statewide implementation. Waiting for greater clarity from federal regulators. Focusing on less volatile applications of blockchain technology rather than direct crypto exposure. The path forward for Arizona digital assets in state operations will likely depend on evolving market conditions, technological advancements, federal regulatory developments, and continued dialogue between the legislature and the governor’s office. Key Takeaways from the Arizona Vetoes The veto of these Arizona crypto bills offers several important insights: Caution Prevails: State governments remain cautious about directly handling or investing in volatile cryptocurrencies, prioritizing financial stability and security. Implementation Challenges are Real: Beyond the concept, the practicalities of securely accepting, managing, and accounting for digital assets within state systems are significant hurdles. Regulatory Clarity is Needed: States are often looking to the federal government for clearer guidelines before fully committing to widespread crypto adoption in state functions. Not a Full Stop: While these specific initiatives were blocked, the legislative interest in digital assets in Arizona is likely to continue, potentially leading to future, more refined proposals. For the crypto industry, this highlights the ongoing need for education and engagement with policymakers at all levels of government to address concerns and demonstrate the responsible potential of digital assets. In Conclusion: A Setback, Not a Halt Governor Hobbs’s decision to veto the recent Arizona crypto bills represents a significant setback for proponents of rapid state-level digital asset adoption in Arizona. The proposed initiatives, ranging from establishing a strategic reserve for seized crypto to allowing crypto payments for state services and investing state funds, aimed to position Arizona at the forefront of integrating digital assets into government functions. However, the vetoes underscore the inherent caution surrounding cryptocurrencies among some policymakers, driven by concerns over volatility, security, regulatory uncertainty, and implementation complexity. While other states have pursued more aggressive paths, Arizona appears to be taking a more measured approach, at least for now. The vetoes do not signal an end to discussions about Arizona crypto law or the potential use of Arizona digital assets in the future. They are, however, a clear indication that significant hurdles remain for the direct financial integration of volatile cryptocurrencies into state operations. The future of state-level crypto adoption will likely involve ongoing legislative efforts, technological advancements, and crucial dialogue addressing the legitimate concerns of policymakers. To learn more about the latest state crypto regulation trends, explore our article on key developments shaping digital assets institutional adoption.

13 May 2025, 13:31

Midnight Foundation Launches to Support Growth of Secure and Decentralized Blockchain Network

Led by former Input | Output (IO) and Parity Technologies executive Fahmi Syed, the Midnight Foundation will support the growth of Midnight’s rational privacy ecosystem and guide its transition to full decentralization. TORONTO, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Consensus 2025 — Today marks the official launch of the Midnight Foundation, an organization committed to supporting the growth of the Midnight blockchain ecosystem. Midnight is a platform enabling decentralized applications that deliver rational privacy – programmable data protection with selective disclosure. The Foundation’s core mission is to foster a thriving developer community, expand access to Midnight’s privacy-first technology, and guide the network’s evolution toward full decentralization. Through a wide range of initiatives—including open-source tooling, education, and targeted funding—the Foundation will support builders developing real-world use cases using Midnight. Crucially, the Foundation will also play a leading role in Midnight’s path to autonomous governance. As the network matures, control over protocol upgrades, treasury allocation, and ecosystem development will transition to NIGHT token holders through on-chain voting. The Foundation will ensure this transition is secure, transparent, and community-driven. These efforts will be key to empowering the Foundation to redefine what Web3 infrastructure can become: private, compliant, decentralized—and ready for real-world adoption. The Midnight Foundation will be led by Fahmi Syed who has been appointed as President. A recognized leader in decentralized governance and digital innovation, Syed brings over two decades of experience in financial strategy, operational leadership, and decentralized technology to the role. Most recently, he supported the development of the Midnight project at IO. Prior to that, he was CFO at Parity Technologies, the team behind Polkadot and Kusama, where he led financial operations during a period of rapid ecosystem expansion. Earlier in his career, Syed was Chief Operating Officer at FIFTHDELTA, Europe’s largest hedge fund launch of 2021. He also held senior leadership roles at Marshall Wace, where he contributed to the firm’s global growth to $45 billion in assets under management. The core development of the Midnight network itself was led by Shielded Technologies, an engineering spinout from IO, the creators of innovations such as Cardano. Shielded Technologies was founded to pioneer privacy-first, regulation-ready decentralized technologies, and continues to play an integral role in supporting Midnight’s technical innovation and ecosystem growth. Commenting on his appointment, Syed said: “The Midnight Foundation has an extraordinary opportunity to shape the future of decentralized technology in a way that truly protects users’ rights and privacy. I’m honored to lead this mission at such a critical time. Working alongside Shielded Technologies and its visionary CEO, Eran Barak, we are committed to building a thriving, global ecosystem that brings Midnight’s transformative technology to life for developers, businesses, and communities everywhere.” A new kind of blockchain network, Midnight is designed to overcome the limitations of traditional blockchains that expose all transaction data by default. It uses zero-knowledge cryptography and a cooperative tokenomics design to enable truly private, censorship-resistant, and regulation-ready applications. Its public utility token, NIGHT, enables governance and rewards, while its shielded resource, DUST, powers transactions without exposing metadata or wallet details. Unlike typical blockchain fee models, DUST is renewable, non-transferable, and decays over time – a radical new model that makes the network sustainable, privacy-protecting, and secure from economic exploitation. Moving forward, the Midnight Foundation will look to build a wide ecosystem of partners, builders and token holders, working together to realize the potential of the Midnight blockchain network. We invite you to join us on this journey. Media Contact: Georgia Hanias Midnight Foundation [email protected] About Midnight Foundation The Midnight Foundation is an organization dedicated to advancing the development, adoption, and real-world impact of the Midnight network, the privacy enhancing blockchain project developed by Shielded Technologies. Designed for confidential smart contracts, Midnight enables censorship-resistant yet compliant decentralized applications. It leverages zero-knowledge proofs and a cooperative tokenomics architecture- with NIGHT as the utility token and DUST as the shielded transaction resource- to deliver a powerful combination of privacy, security, and decentralization. For more information, visit: https://midnight.foundation About Shielded Technologies Shielded Technologies is an emerging engineering company pioneering privacy-enhancing, decentralized technologies designed for real-world compatibility. A spinout from leading Web3 venture studio Input Output, Shielded brings deep cryptographic expertise as the core technology partner for the Midnight Network — a new blockchain that leverages advanced cryptographic proofs and a cooperative tokenomics design to protect data and metadata while ensuring auditability and compliance. In collaboration with the Midnight Foundation, Shielded is shaping a global ecosystem that upholds the fundamental freedoms of association, commerce, and expression. For more information, visit: https://shielded.io