News
14 May 2026, 03:53
PSE proposes ACTA privacy layer to keep ERC-8004 AI agents verifiable without exposing identity

Privacy & Scaling Explorations, the Ethereum Foundation’s privacy research arm, published a research proposal titled “Anonymous Credentials for Trustless Agents (ACTA)” on Ethereum Research in May 2026, per the ethresear.ch post . ACTA is designed as a privacy layer sitting on top of ERC-8004, addressing what the proposal calls “a permanent, public interaction graph between AI agents and their clients” that the standard’s current design creates. ERC-8004 was originally proposed in August 2025 with contributions from MetaMask, the Ethereum Foundation, Google, and Coinbase, per Allium. The standard went live on Ethereum mainnet in January 2026 and now anchors over 100,000 deployed agents across Ethereum, BNB Chain, Base, and Solana. As Cryptopolitan reported in March, BNB Chain alone carries 44,051 ERC-8004 agents, with Ethereum at 36,512. The trust-versus-exposure problem ACTA targets ERC-8004’s three registries, Identity, Reputation, and Validation, give agents on-chain identity and portable reputation. The Identity Registry assigns each agent a permanent on-chain ID using ERC-721 tokens. The Reputation Registry logs feedback from users and other agents. The Validation Registry lets third parties verify agent actions without trusting the agent itself. The design works for trust establishment. It does not work for strategic privacy. Every reputation signal, every credential check, every delegation is immutably on-chain. For a DeFi protocol using multiple agents for liquidity routing or risk assessment, that interaction graph reveals which models the protocol uses, which service providers it depends on, and which strategies it prefers. The same problem applies in governance and prediction markets, where an agent’s public trail can be used to infer the user’s identity or trading intentions. ACTA replaces public identity with policy-proof ACTA’s core shift is moving trust from public identity to policy proof. A protocol registers verification policies. When an agent participates, it submits a zero-knowledge proof showing it satisfies the policy rather than displaying credentials directly. The verifier sees three things: the policy ID, the proof result, and a context-specific nullifier that prevents reuse without binding the agent’s activities across scenarios to one public identity. An agent could prove it passed a specific audit, holds an audit score above a threshold, uses an approved model version, operates from outside restricted jurisdictions, or is authorized by a verified human principal, all without exposing the underlying data. ACTA also addresses on-behalf-of delegation, letting an agent prove it operates under human authorization without revealing the human’s real-world identity. ACTA still has major implementation questions ACTA is a research draft. The proposal acknowledges unresolved issues, including the size of anonymity sets, centralization risk in credential issuers, threshold deanonymization of malicious agents, cross-chain credential portability, and the cost of client-side proof generation. Adoption depends on whether anonymity sets are large enough, issuers are trustworthy enough, proof costs are low enough, and developer experience is good enough. Early ERC-8004 activity shows demand for the layer underneath. Allium recorded 401 feedback submissions in the first two weeks after mainnet launch. Separate research by Stefano Maestri has proposed performance bonding, in which agents post collateral that is automatically forfeited if they fail their tasks, as a complementary accountability mechanism enforced by smart contracts rather than legal systems. The proposal frames the broader question this way: a trust layer solves how to prove, but it does not solve what is exposed during proof. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .
14 May 2026, 03:40
Dapper Labs Pauses NFL ALL DAY NFT Minting to Develop Next-Gen Product

BitcoinWorld Dapper Labs Pauses NFL ALL DAY NFT Minting to Develop Next-Gen Product Dapper Labs, the blockchain developer behind the Flow (FLOW) network, has announced it will halt the issuance of new Moment NFTs for its National Football League (NFL) digital collectible platform, NFL ALL DAY. The company confirmed the decision on its official website, stating that existing Moment NFT holders can continue to trade on the marketplace without interruption. Strategic Pivot Toward Next NFL Product Dapper Labs clarified that the pause in new minting is not a shutdown of NFL ALL DAY but a strategic shift. The company is now concentrating its resources on developing the next iteration of its NFL digital collectible offering. Details regarding the new product are expected to be released in the coming months, though no specific timeline or features have been shared. Implications for Collectors and the Flow Ecosystem For collectors who already own NFL ALL DAY Moments, the marketplace remains fully operational, meaning secondary market trading, buying, and selling of existing assets will continue as usual. The decision to stop new minting, however, signals a potential redesign of the user experience or underlying mechanics of Dapper Labs’ NFL partnership. This move comes amid a broader recalibration in the NFT market, where several major platforms have shifted from rapid minting cycles to more curated, utility-focused product strategies. Dapper Labs, which also operates NBA Top Shot, has been a pioneer in sports-based digital collectibles, and this pause suggests a deliberate effort to evolve the product before expanding further. What This Means for the Broader NFT Landscape The decision to halt new minting on NFL ALL DAY could be interpreted as a response to changing collector behavior and market conditions. While the initial boom in sports NFTs saw high demand for new drops, sustained engagement has proven challenging for many platforms. By pausing and rethinking the product, Dapper Labs may be aiming to deliver a more compelling and sustainable experience for fans and collectors alike. Additionally, the focus on a new NFL product could indicate deeper integration with the Flow blockchain’s capabilities, potentially incorporating advancements in scalability, user experience, or interoperability that were not present in the original NFL ALL DAY launch. Conclusion Dapper Labs’ decision to pause new NFT minting on NFL ALL DAY marks a significant moment for sports digital collectibles. While existing holders remain unaffected, the company’s shift in focus toward a next-generation NFL product suggests a thoughtful, long-term approach to building digital fan engagement. The coming months will reveal whether this strategic pivot strengthens Dapper Labs’ position in the evolving NFT market. FAQs Q1: Will I still be able to trade my NFL ALL DAY Moments after the halt? Yes. Dapper Labs has confirmed that the marketplace for existing Moment NFTs will continue to operate, allowing holders to buy, sell, and trade their collectibles. Q2: Is NFL ALL DAY shutting down completely? No. The halt applies only to the minting of new Moments. Dapper Labs is actively developing a new NFL product and has stated that details will be shared in the coming months. Q3: Why is Dapper Labs stopping new minting? The company has not provided an explicit reason, but the move is widely seen as a strategic pivot to refine its NFL digital collectible offering and adapt to changing market conditions in the NFT space. This post Dapper Labs Pauses NFL ALL DAY NFT Minting to Develop Next-Gen Product first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
14 May 2026, 02:36
Charles Hoskinson Says Cardano Never Abandoned Scaling Amid Community Criticism

Charles Hoskinson, Cardano founder, pushed back strongly against claims that Cardano had “abandoned scaling in favor of governance.”
14 May 2026, 02:10
Whale Address Sells $13.4M in HYPE Tokens Over Two Days, On-Chain Data Shows

BitcoinWorld Whale Address Sells $13.4M in HYPE Tokens Over Two Days, On-Chain Data Shows A whale address known as ‘qianbaidu.eth’ (starting with 0x9bb9) has sold 338,084 HYPE tokens over the past two days, according to on-chain data shared by blockchain analytics platform Onchain Lens. The sales were valued at approximately $13.4 million, with an average selling price of $39.65 per token. Details of the Transaction Onchain Lens reported the activity via a post on X, noting that the whale has been actively reducing its HYPE position. Despite the significant sell-off, the address still holds 151,573 HYPE tokens staked, currently valued at roughly $5.89 million. This suggests the whale has not fully exited its position but is strategically taking profits or rebalancing its portfolio. The sales occurred over a two-day window, indicating a deliberate, phased approach rather than a panic-driven dump. Such behavior is often monitored by traders as it can signal a shift in sentiment or a large holder’s outlook on the asset’s near-term price trajectory. Market and Industry Context Whale transactions are closely watched in cryptocurrency markets because large holders can influence price action, especially in tokens with lower liquidity. HYPE, the native token of the Hyperliquid decentralized exchange (DEX), has seen increased trading volume and attention in recent months due to the platform’s growth in the perpetual futures and derivatives space. While the sale of $13.4 million is notable, it represents a fraction of HYPE’s total market capitalization, which is in the hundreds of millions. The token’s price has experienced volatility, and large sell orders can amplify downward pressure if not absorbed by market depth. Implications for Retail Traders For everyday traders, tracking whale movements can provide early signals of potential price shifts. However, it is important to note that one whale’s actions do not necessarily predict the broader market trend. The fact that the whale still holds a significant staked position may indicate a long-term belief in the project’s value, even while taking short-term profits. On-chain analysts often advise against making trading decisions based solely on whale activity, as large holders may have multiple wallets and strategies that are not fully visible. Nonetheless, such data points add to the transparency of the market and allow for more informed analysis. Conclusion The sale of 338,084 HYPE by the qianbaidu.eth address over two days is a significant on-chain event, reflecting a strategic reduction of a large position. With the whale still staking over $5.8 million in HYPE, the move appears to be a partial exit rather than a complete divestment. As always, market participants should consider multiple data points and conduct their own research before acting on whale-related news. FAQs Q1: Who is the whale behind the HYPE sale? The whale address is publicly known as ‘qianbaidu.eth’ and starts with 0x9bb9. The identity of the individual or entity behind the address is not known, as cryptocurrency wallets are pseudonymous. Q2: How much HYPE did the whale sell, and at what price? The whale sold 338,084 HYPE over two days, worth approximately $13.4 million, at an average price of $39.65 per token, according to Onchain Lens. Q3: Does the whale still hold any HYPE? Yes, the whale still has 151,573 HYPE staked, valued at around $5.89 million, indicating a partial reduction rather than a full exit from the token. This post Whale Address Sells $13.4M in HYPE Tokens Over Two Days, On-Chain Data Shows first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
14 May 2026, 01:40
Hyperliquid tops blockchain fee rankings with $11M weekly revenue, capturing 43% market share

BitcoinWorld Hyperliquid tops blockchain fee rankings with $11M weekly revenue, capturing 43% market share Hyperliquid (HYPE) generated $11 million in fees last week, accounting for approximately 43% of the total across major blockchain networks and securing the top position, according to data reported by The Block. The overwhelming majority of these fees originated from futures trading activity on the platform. Specialized chains challenge traditional Layer 1 dominance The fee data signals a notable shift in the blockchain landscape, as derivatives traders increasingly migrate to Hyperliquid’s infrastructure. The Block’s analysis suggests that specialized application-specific chains can be more effective at generating fee revenue than traditional Layer 1 networks, which often rely on general-purpose activity. For context, Ethereum recorded $3 million in fees during the same period, representing a 13% market share — a relatively modest figure compared to its historical performance. Solana generated $2 million in fees for a 10% share, which analysts at The Block interpreted as an indication that memecoin activity does not translate as directly into sustainable fee revenue. What this means for the broader crypto ecosystem The fee distribution underscores a growing trend: specialized blockchain infrastructure tailored for specific use cases, such as derivatives trading, can outperform general-purpose networks in revenue generation. This has implications for network valuation models, investor sentiment, and the strategic direction of Layer 1 projects seeking to maintain competitive fee markets. For Hyperliquid, the sustained fee volume reinforces its position as a leading platform for on-chain derivatives, a sector that has seen increasing institutional and retail interest. Implications for Ethereum and Solana Ethereum’s relatively lower fee share, despite its dominant position in decentralized finance and NFT markets, may prompt renewed discussion about scalability and fee-burning mechanisms. Solana’s performance, meanwhile, highlights the challenge of converting high transaction volumes from low-value activities like memecoin trading into meaningful fee revenue. Both networks face pressure to develop higher-value use cases that can compete with specialized platforms like Hyperliquid. Conclusion Hyperliquid’s $11 million weekly fee generation marks a significant milestone in the evolution of blockchain economics, demonstrating that specialized derivatives-focused chains can capture substantial market share from established Layer 1 networks. As the crypto industry continues to mature, the ability to generate sustainable fee revenue will remain a key metric for evaluating blockchain networks and their long-term viability. FAQs Q1: What is Hyperliquid and why did it generate so much in fees? Hyperliquid is a blockchain platform specifically optimized for derivatives trading, particularly perpetual futures. Its high fee generation is driven by active trading volume from users who prefer its specialized infrastructure over general-purpose networks like Ethereum or Solana. Q2: How does Hyperliquid’s fee revenue compare to Ethereum and Solana? Hyperliquid generated $11 million in weekly fees, compared to Ethereum’s $3 million and Solana’s $2 million. Hyperliquid’s share was 43% of the total across major networks, while Ethereum held 13% and Solana 10%. Q3: Does this mean Hyperliquid is more valuable than Ethereum or Solana? Not necessarily. Fee revenue is one metric among many used to evaluate blockchain networks. Ethereum and Solana have broader ecosystems, larger developer communities, and more diverse use cases. However, Hyperliquid’s performance demonstrates that specialized chains can compete effectively in specific niches. This post Hyperliquid tops blockchain fee rankings with $11M weekly revenue, capturing 43% market share first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
13 May 2026, 23:32
Kelp DAO Restores rsETH Bridging After 1st Tranche Transfer

On May 13, Kelp DAO announced the completion of the first batch of rsETH into the LayerZero OFT Adapter by Aave. After this transfer, the platform will resume bridging and allow users to move their rsETH between Ethereum and various Layer 2 networks. In the next 24 hours, the platform is expected to unpause withdrawals for rsETH contracts. On Wednesday, TAC Protocol’s TON-ETH cross-chain bridge faced an operation, allowing hackers to steal around $3 million in USDT, BLUM, and other tokens. On May 13, Kelp DAO and Aave announced the completion of the first tranche to restore full operations for rsETH after the recent hack incident, which is a liquid restaking token. The first batch of this transaction of rsETH was transferred by Aave into the LayerZero OFT Adapter under their plan to restore the operation with great coordination. This is a major announcement as it will resume bridging, which will allow users to freely move rsETH between the Ethereum main network and different Layer 2 networks. The update will provide major relief to users as well as the entire DeFi community after facing turmoil due to a cyberattack. According to the official announcement, rsETH contracts will be unpaused to allow withdrawals of tokens within the next 24 hours. After this, deposits for tokens are also expected to resume shortly after the announcement, along with exchange rates, which are expected to update within 48 hours. This restoration of operations in some areas will also allow rsETH holders to get staking rewards that accumulated when the operations were closed. “Remaining tranches from Aave’s recovery guardian and Kelp DAO will be sent over the next 2 weeks to fully refill the lockbox,” stated in the official post on X. Kelp DAO and Aave Restore rsETH Operations The latest announcement comes after Kelp DAO and Aave announced the completion of a major recovery process on May 12. They have burned the exploiter’s ETH holdings on the Arbitrum network. By doing this, they have destroyed the last batch of unbacked tokens, which were created after the hack. This process has helped Kelp DAO to restore the real backing for rsETH tokens with great supply integrity. The joint operation between Aave and Kelp has led to the liquidation of Aave positions. They have also made a collaboration with Arbitrum governance to work on frozen assets. On April 18, hackers linked to North Korea’s Lazarus Group exploited the Kelp DAO LayerZero bridge to steal rsETH tokens. They have taken advantage of loopholes present in the system of a one-of-one verifier on the cross-chain system. By using a fake message that came from another chain, a hacker has smartly deceived the bridge to release approximately 116,500 to 117,132 rsETH from the main network without proper backing. While hackers were executing this transaction, the cumulative worth of stolen tokens was approximately $292 million, which makes it the biggest hack of the DeFi sector. After stealing these rsETH tokens, hackers have used the tokens as collateral on Aave, which is a leading lending protocol on Ethereum and Arbitrum. The hacker has then borrowed large amounts of Wrapped Ethereum and other assets against the fake tokens. This cyberattack has created “bad debt” for the lending protocol. However, in response to this bizarre cyberattack, the entire DeFi community has reacted quickly. Aave has launched an operation to freeze the rsETH markets to avoid any further damage. The Kelp DAO hack has created panic in the entire sector, as in just 2 days, around $13 billion worth of capital was wiped out from the sector. The Kelp DAO hack has once again exposed the vulnerabilities present in the cross-chain bridges in the blockchain sector. Just because Kelp used a simple single-verifier setup to reduce the cost of operations. This has created a major loophole on the bridge, which allowed hackers to steal money by attacking nodes and false data. After this cyber attack on Kelp, the DeFi platform has taken lessons. In yesterday’s post on X, Kelp revealed that they have changed, requiring verification from 4 independent attestors, increasing the block confirmations, and others. The platform is also planning to integrate more robust systems like Chainlink CCIP. Aave is playing a major role in the recovery of the stolen tokens. To do this, the lending platform has announced the formation of the DeFi United program in collaboration with Kelp DAO and other DeFi platforms. They used on-chain tools and governance votes to liquidate attacker positions and recover assets. Other chains like Arbitrum have also frozen their funds. Not just this, they have filed an emergency motion to overcome a United States court restraining order. Right now, Aave Recovery Guardian multisig wallets are holding funds that are expected to be used in refilling the missing rsETH. Another Day, Another Bridge Exploited: TAC Blockchain Suffers $3M Hack on TON-ETH Cross-Chain Bridge On May 13, TAC Protocol faced a hack after the hacker stole approximately $3 million from its TON to Ethereum cross-chain bridge. In this hack, the hackers have stolen USDT, BLUM tokens, and other Jettons, which are tokens created on the TON network. In the latest post on X, TAC has confirmed this hacking incident. TAC stated in the post, “We are actively working with law enforcement, SEAL 911, and our security partners to trace and block the stolen funds. ” TAC is a layer 1 blockchain, which is designed to connect Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible decentralized applications with the Telegram TON blockchain. TAC is a major bridge to transfer assets between the Ethereum and TON blockchains. In this attack, hackers have likely exploited a cross-chain bridge, which is a major loophole in the bridge. This hack has sparked a discussion in the DeFi sector amid the recent turmoil following the Kelp DAO hack. It is raising serious questions about the security of users’ funds on the cross-chain bridges. Also Read: Kelp DAO Begins Recovering rsETH After the April Exploit










































