Blog

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, December 20th, 2023, Chainwire

Solend’s expansion is set to compound Sui’s remarkable DeFi momentum, which has seen TVL grow by over 500% since September.

Solend, the top lending and borrowing protocol on Solana, today announced its impending launch on the Sui blockchain, which was created by a team of technology leaders that emerged from Facebook’s blockchain initiative. This new integration marks Solend’s first deployment on a blockchain other than Solana and underscores the team’s confidence in the strength of Sui’s technology and the Sui network’s potential as a long-term partner.

As the largest lending and borrowing product on Solana, Solend boasts over $140 million in total value locked (TVL) across over 170,000 users and supports over 70 assets. Solend also currently has over 20 developer integrations, making it one of Solana’s most prominent platforms for DeFi development. Expansion to Sui will introduce Solend’s robust DeFi offerings to a new community of users and bring even more builders to the Sui ecosystem. 

Rooter, the pseudonymous Founder of Solend, said, “We’re not maximalists by any means — I left that behind when I left Ethereum. We’re building on Sui for the same reason we decided to build on Solana three years ago: because they’re doing something special. For Solana it was performance, for Sui it’s the developer experience. The current state of smart contracts doesn’t reflect the aspirations of the industry. Move fixes this. Most of the team is 100% focused on Solana, and we’ve spun up a sub-team dedicated to Sui.”

The Solend expansion news comes on the heels of Bluefin, an ascending DEX with over $100 million in daily volume, announcing they will build their V2 exclusively on Sui and unveiling their product roadmap for well into 2024. 

It is critical for a growing DeFi platform to secure the assets entrusted to it, and Sui is leaving no stone unturned in safeguarding its ecosystem. Security on Sui starts with the security features embedded in the Move language itself, which add a unique protection for smart contracts on Sui Further, Sui supports its developers by working with partners and leading blockchain security firms, Zellic and Ottersec, to check projects’ individual codebases. Solend’s code will benefit from their rigorous audits that will ensure that the application meets the highest security standards and is fully compatible with the Sui blockchain. 

At the same time, for DeFi application builders, top-tier performance in the underlying network and easy access for new users are also paramount. From a performance perspective, DeFi projects on Sui benefit from the network’s use of parallel processing for the vast majority of transactions, which results in unprecedented low latency and enables horizontal scaling. It was this same technology stack which enabled Sui to benchmark a peak throughput of up to 297,000 TPS and time to finality of ~480 milliseconds, and in just its fourth month to achieve the greatest number of transactions processed in a single day by any blockchain network ever. 

Likewise, for accessibility, Sui offers DeFi protocols extremely easy onboarding for new users through its native zkLogin feature which enables end users to authenticate with the same Web 2 social logins from Google, Twitch and others that they are already familiar with. Any DeFi protocol building on Sui can incorporate zkLogin, eliminating the need for new users to manage wallets and seed phrases and removing a huge hurdle to mainstream use of DeFi protocols on Sui, while still remaining non-custodial. 

“Solend has achieved a level of success that is unmatched by the vast majority of projects in our industry and we are thrilled to welcome them to the Sui ecosystem,” said Greg Siourounis, Managing Director of the Sui Foundation. “Sui was created with the scalability and efficiency that DeFi projects require at its core. We look forward to Solend’s continued upward trajectory building on Sui.”

The Solend team brings a wealth of experience with both the Web2 and the Web3 world, with members having previously worked at industry stalwarts Coinbase, Robinhood, Cruise, Twitch, and Two Sigma. Solend is backed by a strong group of investors, including Dragonfly, Polychain, Race Capital, and Coinbase Ventures.

Contact

Sui Foundation
media@sui.io

Zug, Switzerland, December 19th, 2023, Chainwire

Gelato announces expansion of its all-in-one Rollup-as-a-Service (RaaS) Platform. In addition to supporting Polygon CDK, Gelato now also services the OP Stack, the Optimism Collective’s open-source, modular development framework. As part of this expansion, Gelato enables Lisk, a Layer 1 blockchain launched in 2016, to join the Ethereum ecosystem by migrating to an Ethereum Layer 2. Lisk will join OP Mainnet, Base, and other OP Chains as the first Layer 1 committing to Optimism’s Superchain vision.

“Gelato’s expansion of support to the OP Stack underscores our mission to revolutionize the blockchain arena. By democratizing access to a modular blockspace, we’re empowering a diverse range of creators to deploy their unique, ready-to-launch Layer 2 blockchains. This pivotal move will unlock the full potential of mainstream crypto applications, marking a new era in blockchain adoption.” – Luis Schliesske, Founder at Gelato

Designed to alleviate the congestion problem of the Ethereum mainnet, the OP Stack is the standard, open codebase that powers the Optimism ecosystem and was built to support the Superchain. By leveraging Gelato’s Rollup as a Service platform, in addition to deploying, hosting, and monitoring of new Layer 2 chains, the OP Stack now gains native integrations with Gelato’s industry-leading Web3 middleware services including automation, off-chain data, and Account Abstraction to enable superior UX. Moreover, the platform provides out-of-the-box, native access to tier-one web3 services such as Etherscan, The Graph, LayerZero, and many more.

Layer 2 chains deployed with Gelato, like Lisk, get much more than the underlying blockchain. Layer 2 chains gains access to a fully production-ready web3 development environment. This is the first time in web3 that developers have access to an end-to-end serviced OP Chain with all necessary infrastructure dependencies deployed right from the start.

“We are excited that Gelato has extended support to the Superchain as a RaaS provider for Lisk, making it easier for developers to onboard new users into the Superchain ecosystem,” — said Ben Jones, Chief Scientist at the Optimism Foundation. “Gelato has already executed a million transactions on OP Mainnet for projects like Synthetix, Lyra, and Velodrome, and we’re looking forward to Gelato bringing their developer expertise to help bring the Superchain vision to reality.”

With just a few clicks and without the need to write any code, using Gelato Rollup-as-a-Service Platform anyone can easily deploy their fully serviced OP Chain, freeing up developers to focus on growing their core business.

“Using Gelato’s Roll up as a Service Platform allows the Lisk research and development team to be primarily focused on building additional products and tooling that developers and end users love, while also committing resources to the Superchain’s development.” – says, Dominic Schwenter, Chief Project Officer at Lisk

Gelato and Optimism share a vision of a world with thousands of interconnected blockchains, enabling the horizontal scaling of web3 applications. Gelato’s Rollup-as-a-Service platform will serve as a key component of this environment, running its customers’ underlying blockchains and offering an end-to-end development environment with integrated essential developer infrastructure services.

About Gelato

Gelato is an all-in-one Ethereum Rollup as a Service Platform built without limits. Designed to be super-fast, incredibly secure, and infinitely scalable, Gelato rollups allow anyone to build and deploy their fully serviced Layer 2 chains at a pace natively integrated with Web3’s favorite tools and services launching a production-ready web3 development environment from the Genesis block.

For more information visit Gelato’s: Official Website | Telegram | Twitter

About Optimism

Optimism is a project dedicated to scaling Ethereum’s technology and expanding its ability to coordinate people from across the world to build effective, decentralized power structures. The Optimism Collective builds best-in-class software for running L2 blockchains and aims to address key governance and economic challenges in the wider crypto ecosystem. The Optimism Collective is also committed to building a sustainable ecosystem through Retroactive Public Goods Funding. By rewarding the impactful projects, Optimism is scaling Ethereum’s present to provide funding for its future.

About Lisk

Lisk provides a cost-efficient, fast, and scalable Layer 2 (L2) network that is secured by Ethereum. As a long-standing Web3 infrastructure project, Lisk has been democratizing blockchain accessibility for developers and end users globally since 2016. Its core focus is to solve local problems in Emerging Markets by bringing solutions around real-world assets (RWA), off-chain assets (OCA), and DePIN onchain. As a member of the Optimism Superchain Lisk is contributing to onboarding the next 1 billion people to Web3.

Contact

Head of Marketing
Ella Jonas
Gelato Digital GmbH
press@gelato.digital

Tortola, British Virgin Islands, December 19th, 2023, Chainwire

Rebase, a leader in digital innovation, announces the launch of the IRL Cup, a groundbreaking event celebrating the debut of $IRL, the ecosystem’s native token. More than an airdrop, the IRL Cup is a unique, immersive experience designed to offer the Web3 community engaging ways to earn rewards.

Rebase has consistently demonstrated its commitment to digital engagement, boasting over 45,000 active users and 700,000 miles traversed in-app. The IRL Cup, spanning three months starting December 24th, 2023, marks a revolutionary step in Rebase’s journey, encouraging physical activity and integrating real-world movement into virtual points.

Participation is user-friendly, with points earned through various in-app activities. Three leaderboards (‘Play-time,’ ‘Distance Covered,’ and ‘Items Collected’) will distribute 5,000,000 $IRL tokens as rewards. Surprise collaborations with brands and projects add an extra layer of excitement.

“The vision of Rebase may sound simple but being able to tie digital assets and collectibles to real-life locations will be game-changing. It will open up an entirely new vertical for both businesses and creators to connect with their audiences and fans,” says Edmond Truong, co-founder of Rebase.

The IRL Cup is not just a token event; it’s a call to adventure, inviting users to merge virtual gaming with real-world exploration. As the event unfolds, Rebase continues to showcase the elements that position it as a standout platform in the digital space.

About Rebase:

Rebase, a leader in digital innovation, harnesses Blockchain, AR, and VR technologies to evolve into a geolocation-based advertising platform, blending digital and physical worlds in a gamified experience. Supported by prominent investors like Animoca Brands, Defiance Capital, and Spartan Group, Rebase is not only rapidly growing but also strategically positioned in the tech industry, poised for further advancements and impact.

Download the Rebase app now to join the adventure:

iOS: Download on the App Store

Google Play: Download on Google Play

Contact

Director
Yanis Caceres Yarelis Yissel
Hello@rebase.gg

Redmond, Washington, United States, December 18th, 2023, Chainwire

Metagood, a blockchain technology and digital assets company, announced the successful completion of a $5 million series seed funding round aimed at advancing its Osura marketplace, focused on art within the Bitcoin ecosystem.

“Osura is embarking on a groundbreaking collaboration with artists to immortalize their creations on Bitcoin, the blockchain synonymous with unparalleled security and longevity,” said Danny Yang, CEO of Metagood. “I’ve been building on Bitcoin for over a decade and couldn’t be more excited about the possibilities that lie ahead for us on the Ordinals protocol which is simple, elegant and powerful.”

Spearheaded by Sora Ventures, the series seed round saw participation from key investors including ACTAI Ventures, Bitcoin Frontier Fund, UTXO Management, London Real Ventures, and Peach.xyz, among others.

The Ordinals protocol, which is only a year old, has unlocked an important market for storing and securing high-value assets on the Bitcoin blockchain. Osura is building the infrastructure for launching and trading assets developed on the Ordinals protocol, starting with art on Bitcoin.

“Embracing art on Bitcoin marks a stride into digital ownership, paving the way for real-world assets to seamlessly transact on the blockchain,” remarked Bill Tai, legendary venture capitalist and Metagood Chairman. “As witnessed in other chains with the advent of non-fungible tokens (NFTs,) we anticipate Bitcoin’s journey toward parallel explosive growth and are already seeing Bitcoin surpass other chains in recent NFT trading volumes.” 

This funding milestone, part of Metagood’s larger financing endeavor of $10 million, marks a new era in propelling the development of more technology and product innovations within Osura. Metagood aims to redefine industry standards by merging technology, art, and community engagement in the Bitcoin digital asset marketplace.

“Metagood is setting the gold standard for technical innovation in the Ordinals market,” stated Jason Fang, Founder and Managing Partner at Sora Ventures. “Sora Ventures stands firm in the conviction that the most valuable digital artifacts will find their home on Bitcoin. Leading the round for Metagood is not just an opportunity but a testament to our unwavering belief in the Ordinals space.”

The infusion of capital will bolster the company’s efforts in forging partnerships with artists, advancing product enhancements on Osura, and expanding its engineering and marketing team to meet burgeoning client and user growth.

“With this new funding, Metagood is poised to elevate the Osura marketplace to new heights, further solidifying our standing as an industry leader in premium digital artifacts,” said Amanda Terry, Chief Operating Officer of Metagood. “As we navigate the exciting landscape leading up to the Bitcoin halving in April 2024, we believe the timing is impeccable for growing our team and advancing our commitment to innovation on Bitcoin.”

Metagood has a dynamic founding team with extensive experience building on both Bitcoin and Ethereum. CEO Danny Yang, a crypto industry veteran, previously founded Maicoin, Taiwan’s largest crypto exchange operating since 2013, and Blockseer, a blockchain analytics business used by customers including the FBI, US Secret Service, and the DHS sold in 2018. COO Amanda Terry, with a background in business development at Twitter and five successful startup acquisitions, brings invaluable expertise to the team as a digital media operator and startup investor. Chairman Bill Tai, a crypto pioneer since 2010, has an impressive track record as the first investor in Zoom and seed investor in Canva, Dapper Labs, and 23 publicly traded companies. 

Metagood launched the innovative 10,000 digital art collection OnChainMonkey (OCM) in a single Ethereum transaction in September 2021. In 2023, OnChainMonkey made history on Bitcoin with their pioneering inscriptions. Metagood helped advance the Ordinals protocol and continued to trailblaze with the Ordinal collections of OCM Dimensions and OCM Genesis on Bitcoin. Both collections demonstrated new innovative art on Bitcoin and they inscribed code libraries on Bitcoin (p5.js, Three.js) that use recursive inscriptions, a new type of modular programming enabled on Bitcoin, which saves on Bitcoin fees for other creators to also use.

Osura, Metagood’s NFT Marketplace, stands out as a premium Ordinals platform for art on Bitcoin. With a commitment to curating the finest digital artifacts, Osura debuted with two exceptional Bitcoin Ordinals NFT collections: OnChainMonkey (OCM) Dimensions 300 and the Asprey Bugatti Egg Collection. Metagood worked closely with iconic luxury brands Asprey Studio and Bugatti to create their first generative art collection on Bitcoin. In the new year, Metagood has an exciting lineup for artists launching on Osura in 2024 including Alexis André who created “Friendship Bracelets,” one of the most popular collections on Artblocks for their first collections on Bitcoin.

Metagood’s $10 million in financing to date includes a who’s who in crypto, art, finance including Marcos Bernat (Casa Batlló), Sebastien Borget (The Sandbox), Holly Branson (Virgin Unite), Dingaling (NFT Collector), Gabby Dizon (YGG), Roham Gharegozlou (Dapper Labs), Woody Harrelson, Casper Johansen (Spartan Group), Bobby Lee (BTCC), Charlie Lee (Litecoin), Apolo Ohno (Tribe Capital), Yat Siu (Animoca Brands), Matthew Tan (Etherscan), Stacy Warden (Algorand), Owen Wilson, Mark Yusko (Morgan Creek Capital), and many others. A partial list of investors can be found on the Metagood website at https://www.metagood.com/about-us.

About Metagood:

Metagood is a pioneering blockchain technology and digital assets company that sets a new standard for innovation in the crypto industry. With a focus on seamlessly blending technology, art, and community, Metagood is driving advancements in blockchain technology, particularly on Bitcoin, through initiatives such as their OnChainMonkey NFTs and the curated Osura marketplace for art on Bitcoin.

Through its innovative NFT collection OnChainMonkey, Metagood has created value and contributed to important causes, such as funding the successful evacuation of Sharbat Gula (known as “Afghan Girl” from the iconic 1984 National Geographic cover) and her family from Afghanistan, donating to humanitarian aid in Ukraine, Coral Reef conservation, and more. Metagood was recognized in Fast Company’s 2022 Best World Changing Ideas Awards for Impact Investing.

Contact

Metagood
hello@metagood.com

London, United Kingdom, December 18th, 2023, Chainwire

StrikeX proudly announces the successful launch of Swaps V2, a ground-breaking update that streamlines the crypto-crypto swaps process. This release introduces a new level of functionality, security, and user-friendly design, signifying a significant step forward in StrikeX Wallet’s journey to establish itself as a market leader.

Swaps V2 offers users an unparalleled experience, enabling effortless swapping of ANY token through a sophisticated, secure, and intuitive interface. Whether dealing with blue-chip cryptocurrencies or exploring newly launched tokens, StrikeX Wallet’s Swaps V2 caters to all preferences. Can’t find the token you are looking for? No problem, users can import them seamlessly using the token’s contract address, making them instantly available for swapping.

Additionally, StrikeX Wallet has successfully integrated the popular Layer 2 blockchain, BASE. This integration empowers users to buy, sell, swap, and self-custody BASE native assets directly within their StrikeX Wallet, providing a comprehensive and streamlined experience for cryptocurrency enthusiasts.

Swaps V2 marks the first phase of the StrikeX Wallet Version 2 rollout. In the coming months, users can anticipate witnessing the evolution of the entire Application, with each section being elevated to the V2 standard. Expect enhanced functionality, an enriched user interface, and innovative new features as StrikeX propels itself to the forefront of the decentralized finance (DeFi) space.

StrikeX Wallet invites users to join them on this transformative journey. Users can download the StrikeX Wallet today and be part of the new wave.

About StrikeX

StrikeX Technologies Ltd is a leading provider of blockchain solutions, specialising in blockchain technology, DeFi, and tokenized assets. The company is dedicated to bridging the gap between traditional finance and Web3, empowering organisations to embrace the transformative power of blockchain.

Contact

CEO & Co-Founder
Joe Jowett
StrikeX Technologies Ltd.
press@strikex.com