⭐ Get Started With Ludo X ⭐

We're thrilled to announce a game-changer in the world of Web3: the Ludo X Chrome Extension is now live as a public beta and ready to revolutionize your digital journey! Designed with our community in mind, this innovative tool is your new gateway to exploring, engaging, and benefiting from the vast universe of NFTs and Web3 opportunities directly from your browser.

Why Ludo X?

The Ludo X Chrome Plugin brings the power of Ludo's trusted reputation system right to your fingertips. Imagine being able to identify and interact with the most promising NFTs and Web3 opportunities without leaving your web browser. With Ludo X, this isn't just possible—it's incredibly simple.

Key Features:

• Reputation at a Glance: View real-time reputation scores and insights with Ludo Rank, making informed decisions about which projects to engage with or invest in.

• Seamless Discovery: Navigate the Web3 space with ease, finding curated NFT projects and opportunities that match your interests.

• Effortless Integration: The Ludo X Plugin integrates smoothly with your daily web browsing, offering a non-intrusive, enriching Web3 experience

• Earn Ludo XP by Inviting Friends: Turn your engagement and activities into Ludo XP to unlock a wealth of benefits. Invite your friends to join the Ludo community and start earning rewards together!

Join the New Web3 Era

The public beta launch of the Ludo X Chrome Plugin with MultiversX support marks a significant milestone in our mission to make the Web3 world more accessible, transparent, and rewarding for everyone while pioneering on-chain reputation. Plus, you can connect with your Ethereum wallet as well. We'll use your feedback to improve, with plans to add full Ethereum support in May, followed by continuous expansion to 17 integrated blockchains. Whether you're a seasoned NFT collector, a curious newcomer to the blockchain, or somewhere in between, Ludo X is designed to enhance your digital exploration.

Don't miss out on the opportunity to be at the forefront of Web3 engagement. Install the Ludo X Chrome Plugin today and start your journey into a world where discovering and investing in NFTs and Web3 projects is more intuitive than ever.

Stay tuned for updates, tutorials, and tips on getting the most out of Ludo X. Welcome to the next level of Web3 interaction!

🔍 Introducing MultiversX and xPortal 💳

In the next part, we want to shed light on a very exciting project that we have been following and cooperating with for a while. We are talking about MultiversX, a transformative force in the blockchain landscape, and its flagship financial super-app xPortal, rivaling the likes of Revolut

MultiversX: A New Dimension of Blockchain Technology

Originally known as Elrond, MultiversX has redefined itself at xDay 2022, reflecting its expanded ambitions not only in blockchain technology but also in fintech, the Metaverse, and AI. The transformation from Elrond to MultiversX marks a strategic shift towards building an architecture that connects and enhances real and digital worlds, promoting efficient and secure everyday interactions.

MultiversX stands out with its high-performance metrics, boasting 30,000 current transactions per second, which can scale beyond 100,000. The network's Adaptive State Sharding and Secure Proof of Stake consensus mechanism enable unprecedented efficiency and scalability, catering to the growing demands of the digital economy.

xPortal: Your Gateway to Advanced Crypto Management

The largest product in the MultiversX ecosystem by number of users, xPortal, formerly known as Maiar Wallet, serves as the new global financial SuperApp. This application not only simplifies crypto transactions but also integrates seamlessly with the Ludo X Chrome Extension, enhancing user experience with progressive security, on-chain 2FA, and an embedded hub for all kinds of Web3 applications from DeFi to on-chain games, launchpads, and NFT marketplaces.

xPortal transforms how users interact with their digital assets, offering a comprehensive suite of services from token swaps, even cross-chain, to social engagement tools like encrypted chat or gift cards. The recent addition of physical debit cards featuring cashback rewards has brought xPortal significantly closer to its goal of becoming a go-to.

Ludo X Chrome Extension: Enhancing Your MultiversX Experience

Using the Ludo X Chrome Extension with xPortal enriches your interaction with the MultiversX ecosystem. This powerful combination allows you to access curated Web3 opportunities, manage digital assets securely, and engage with the blockchain more intuitively right from your browser.

As MultiversX continues to push the boundaries of blockchain capabilities, the integration with Ludo X Chrome Extension introduces an on-chain reputation layer to leverage the potential of this innovative technology even further.

Get Started With xPortal Now

We invite you to explore the vast possibilities with MultiversX and enhance your experience through xPortal, supported by the Ludo X Chrome Extension. Dive into a world where technology meets convenience, and stay ahead in the rapidly evolving blockchain space.

🚀 Web3 & NFT Pulse Check! 🎨 📊

Refer Us to Your Friends 🤝

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Ludo’s Industry Digest 🗞

We've read all the important Web3 news in January, so you don't have to, and filtered the most important ones. So let’s have a look…

Blockchains

Congestion: Solana is considering big changes due to heavy use of its network, causing slowdowns. This includes too many new types of digital coins and NFTs being made, which slows everything down. They're thinking about allowing more data to be processed to speed things up, but worry it might make the system less stable. People are debating what's best for the network's future.

Halvening: The recent completion of the Bitcoin halving, a scheduled event that reduces the reward for mining new blocks, saw Bitcoin's price experiencing a little bit of volatility, reaching highs of $67,232 earlier this week before trading now around $63,400. Despite the fluctuations and a volatile week, the halving didn't lead to a notable change in Bitcoin's price, indicating that market participants may have already factored in this event.

Upgrade: The Dencun upgrade for Ethereum has launched, potentially ending high transaction fees on layer-2 networks. This update could greatly lower costs by 75% and change how Ethereum works, making it much faster and cheaper for everyone. It introduces a new way to store data for a short time, making it easier and less expensive to move projects and data on Ethereum. This could lead to many new projects and tools being developed on Ethereum.

Market

ETH ETF: Financial experts suggest delaying Ethereum ETF decisions until after Bitcoin ETFs' excitement fades could be beneficial. With over $12 billion invested in Bitcoin ETFs since their launch, Ethereum doesn't share the same hype, partially due to its complex legal and technical aspects. Delays until Q3 2024 or later are expected for Ethereum ETF approvals, allowing the market to stabilize and address these issues more thoroughly.

El Salvador: El Salvador is increasing its Bitcoin involvement, buying one Bitcoin daily, boosting its holdings to 5,690 BTC, worth around $400 million. Alongside this, it's attracting foreign investment by removing income tax on international investments and transfers. The country moved over 5,000 BTC to a secure cold wallet, reinforcing its commitment to Bitcoin, which it adopted as legal tender in 2021. Despite fluctuating Bitcoin values and international skepticism, El Salvador continues to embrace cryptocurrency for economic growth.

Choose Rich: Decrypt compiled a list of the wealthiest individuals in crypto, from anonymous figures to industry leaders. Satoshi Nakamoto tops the list with an estimated $76.67 billion from Bitcoin holdings. Binance's Changpeng Zhao and Coinbase's Brian Armstrong follow, showcasing significant wealth accumulated through their crypto exchanges. The list reflects the dynamic wealth shifts within the crypto space, influenced by market trends and legal challenges​

ENA: Ethena Labs introduced a governance token, ENA, alongside a yield-earning stablecoin, USDe, debuting with a $1.2 billion market cap. Despite past controversies, investor interest remains strong. The ENA token allows more decentralized and secure operations, with an initial 5% airdrop to USDe and sUSDe holders. The protocol's reliance on Ethereum and staked Ethereum as collateral introduces risks, managed through delta hedging to maintain USDe's stability against Ethereum's price volatility. Meanwhile the token rallied to more than $1.

W Airdrop: Wormhole's W token launched with a bang, initially hitting a $3 billion market cap before falling to $2.4 billion. This airdrop distributed tokens to over 400,000 wallets, aiming to boost community engagement and protocol use across 30+ blockchains, including Ethereum and Solana. Despite a 20% price drop on launch day, Wormhole's strategy focuses on broad participation and cross-chain functionality​.

TNSR: The Tensor NFT Marketplace is set to launch its TNSR token on the Solana blockchain, with Coinbase planning to list it. The launch aligns with the end of Tensor's third season rewards and the start of its fourth. It aims to reward participants with "treasure boxes" containing TNSR tokens, enhancing community engagement and activity on the marketplace.

Memes

WIF: The Dogwifhat meme coin, part of the Solana community, raised $690,000 for an advertising campaign in Las Vegas, aiming to showcase it on the world's largest LED screen. This initiative propelled Dogwifhat's price by 36%, making it one of the top meme coins. The funding goal was quickly surpassed, reflecting high community support, although it's still unclear if the ad space has been officially booked.

Purchase: A Dogwifhat meme NFT, showing a Shiba Inu in a hat, sold for $4.3 million in Ethereum, setting a new record for meme NFT sales. The sale benefits the South Korean family that owns the dog, Achi. This event highlights the significant value and attention meme NFTs can attract, with Dogwifhat's sale surpassing the previous record held by the Doge meme NFT.

Market Crash: The Bitcoin market is experiencing a significant deleveraging event, with a sharp $5.2 billion drop in notional Bitcoin futures over the past week. This adjustment comes amidst geopolitical tensions and strong U.S. economic data, which have destabilized the crypto market. The liquidations and funding cost changes indicate a strong market reaction, potentially in anticipation of Bitcoin's upcoming halving event​.

NFTs & Ordinals & Runes

Runes: Bitcoin introduces Runes, a new token standard, alongside the upcoming halving. Created by the developer of Ordinals, Runes aims to make creating fungible tokens on Bitcoin more efficient using the UTXO model, contrasting with Ethereum's account model. Runes and its tokens will launch at Bitcoin's block height of 840,000, expected on April 20. This initiative is in sync with the halving event, designed to control inflation and has historically attracted attention to Bitcoin, hinting at a potential increase in value and interest.

Runes Launch: The Bitcoin network introduced "Runes" at its latest halving event, which are a new type of token standard aimed at improving the efficiency of creating fungible tokens on Bitcoin using the UTXO model. This new feature, distinct from Ethereum’s account model, was launched at Bitcoin's block height of 840,000, expected around April 20. The Runes tokens are part of a strategy to make Bitcoin transactions faster and cheaper, potentially expanding its functionality and use cases.

Alien Punk: A rare CryptoPunks NFT, featuring one of the nine Alien Punks, sold for $16.42 million in Ethereum. This sale ranks as the second-largest for CryptoPunks and the fifth most expensive NFT sale ever. The buyer remains anonymous, and the seller, who originally bought it in 2021 for $7.57 million, expressed hopes that the new owner would elevate the NFT's profile further.

Adoption 🛜

Blackrock: BlackRock has launched a tokenised fund on the Ethereum network aiming to modernize real-world asset management. The fund, backed by cash, U.S. Treasury bills, and repurchase agreements, offers daily blockchain-based payouts. They've also invested in Securitize, a key player in the fund's operation, alongside other major financial institutions. This move into asset tokenization marks a significant step for BlackRock in bridging traditional finance with digital assets.

Starbucks: Starbucks is stopping its NFT program called Odyssey, which was still in the testing phase, to rethink its strategy. The program initially aimed to merge NFTs with Starbucks' loyalty rewards, offering unique experiences and fostering community connections among members. Despite the potential, the decision to pause reflects a shift in focus towards other priorities or perhaps reevaluating the integration of NFTs within its loyalty scheme.

ETFs: Hong Kong is expected to launch Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs by the end of the month, potentially attracting $25 billion if Chinese investors participate. Despite a ban on certain crypto activities, China's involvement is key, as Hong Kong ETFs need to be listed for six months before inclusion in the southbound stock connect program. This initiative could signal China using Hong Kong as a crypto testing ground amidst its broader economic concerns.

Gaming 🎮

Colony:  "Colony," developed by Parallel Studios, is the first AI-powered game on the Solana blockchain, featuring survival simulation with AI agents. Players interact with these agents, influencing their development and decisions in the game. It offers crypto rewards via NFT avatars, with unique avatars required for full participation. The game integrates Ethereum's Parallel Avatar NFTs and introduces new ones on Solana, planning a public alpha release between Q4 2024 and Q1 2025.

Legal 🧑‍⚖️

Craig Wright: A court heard that Craig Wright, who says he invented Bitcoin, might not have. A group called COPA pointed out he gave false evidence and might have faked documents, making them believe he's not the real creator of Bitcoin.

CBDCS: The Federal Reserve told Congress that making a digital version of the U.S. dollar is now a main job. Even though they said before it wasn't urgent, a new report shows it's a priority. This digital dollar could make the real dollar stronger worldwide. Some lawmakers worry it might lead to too much control, like China's digital money. The U.S. is still looking into it, and Congress has to say yes before anything happens.

Ethereum Foundation: The Ethereum Foundation is under investigation by an unnamed state authority, following a "voluntary enquiry" that requires confidentiality. This development was disclosed on GitHub, marking a shift from the foundation's previous statements of openness. The specifics of the inquiry, including the investigating authority and the reasons behind it, remain undisclosed, sparking discussions on regulatory scrutiny within the crypto space.

Airdrops: The crypto world is fighting back against the SEC with a lawsuit arguing that crypto airdrops are not securities. The case, led by the DeFi Education Fund and involving a Texas-based company, challenges SEC policies, claiming they overstep by enforcing unwritten rules. The lawsuit aims to protect airdrops from SEC actions, arguing that they don't involve an investment of money and thus don't meet the criteria for being considered securities transactions.

SBF Trial: Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF) has been sentenced to 25 years in federal prison after being convicted on fraud charges related to the collapse of FTX exchange and Alameda Research. The sentence is less than the 105 years recommended but more than SBF hoped for. The judge dismissed defense arguments, emphasizing the need for a substantial sentence to prevent future financial crimes by SBF​.

Brands in Web 3: Sounding the Future

Dive into the rhythm of NFTs transforming the music industry in our latest "Brands in Web3" series! We're exploring how digital assets tune up the relationship between artists and fans, from creating unforgettable experiences to opening new revenue streams.

Discover how NFTs are setting the stage for innovative fan engagement and how music giants and startups alike are leveraging this technology for growth. Join us for a melody-infused journey into how NFTs harmonize the digital and physical realms in music.

Don't miss this beat on the future of music distribution and fan connection.

📣 What are your takes on the recent developments in Web3? What project do you want us to look at? What breaking news did we miss?

Join the discussion with our experts on Ludo’s social media channels:

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The most interesting Twitter post and threads we have come across recently 👇