LensLinks: Issue 73

A blockchain news roundup, brought to you by Regiment LLC

Author

Len Pacek
January 17, 2023

Today in LensLinks:

  • US Lawmakers Create "Congress' First Ever" Digital Assets Subcommitee

  • Deep Learning Expert Says GPT Startups May Be in for a Very Rude Awakening

  • Long Time Skeptic "Know(s) The Crypto Industry is Here to Stay"

  • Bitcoin is past $20K. Will there be a parabolic surge?

  • What are "Quest Portals" and why do they matter?

  • Maybe Even an Apple Headset Can’t Rescue AR From Its Mundane Future—Here's Why

  • Here Comes the Polygon "Hard Fork"

  • 5 Unique NFT Cases "That Will Dominate 2023"?

  • RETRO: A look Back on Bitcoin Breaking $60K

  • And Much, Much, More...

QUOTABLE... 

“We want to create a regulatory legal framework for digital assets … that makes America a leader from an innovation point of view but also protects consumers and investors.”

- Congressman French Hill

NOTABLE...  

US Lawmakers Create 'Congress' First Ever' Digital Assets Subcommittee – Regulation Bitcoin News

U.S. Congress' "first ever" subcommittee on digital assets has been formed as part of the House Financial Services Committee.

https://news.bitcoin.com/us-lawmakers-create-congress-first-ever-digital-assets-subcommittee/

The tasks of the new subcommittee include “Providing clear rules of the road among federal regulators for the digital asset ecosystem, developing policies that promote financial technology to reach underserved communities, [and] identifying best practices and policies that continue to strengthen diversity and inclusion in the digital asset ecosystem,” the House Financial Services Committee explained.

 Metaverse & Gaming

Deep Learning Expert Says GPT Startups May Be in for a Very Rude Awakening

Despite the VC gold rush, this expert is arguing that hype — as opposed to firm data and proven results — is in the generative AI industry driving seat.

https://futurism.com/deep-learning-expert-gpt-startups-rude-awakening

"The current climate in AI has so many parallels to 2021 web3 it's making me uncomfortable," François Chollet, an influential deep learning researcher at Google and the creator of the deep learning system Keras, wrote in a blistering Twitter threat. "Narratives based on zero data are accepted as self-evident."

 Blockchain, Tokens & DeFi

Now I Know the Cryptocurrency Industry Is Here to Stay

A long-time crypto skeptic, who once called for a ban, explains why he's organizing a high-level crypto conference at Duke.

https://www.coindesk.com/consensus-magazine/2023/01/10/now-i-know-the-cryptocurrency-industry-is-here-to-stay/

As a long-time crypto skeptic, it may seem odd that I am helping organize a digital assets conference at Duke University on Jan. 20-21. After all, I once wrote a Wall Street Journal op-ed calling for a cryptocurrency ban. While I continue to believe that unbacked cryptocurrencies, like bitcoin, provide no economic utility and impose societal costs that vastly outweigh the benefits, I also recognize that the broader digital asset industry is not going away.

 Crypto Trading

Top Crypto Trader Predicts Parabolic Bitcoin Surge to New All-Time High This Year – Here's His Target - The Daily Hodl

A popular crypto strategist is predicting a parabolic rally for Bitcoin this year now that BTC has broken a key psychological resistance at $20,000.

https://dailyhodl.com/2023/01/15/top-crypto-trader-predicts-parabolic-surge-for-bitcoin-to-new-all-time-high-this-year-heres-his-target/

Pseudonymous analyst Credible tells his 335,700 Twitter followers that he believes the floor for Bitcoin this bear market is “officially” in.

Metaverse & Gaming - A Little More...

What are Quest Portals and how will they shape the future of the Metaverse?

Last month, Meta introduced the futuristic Quest Portals to switch between VR apps seamlessly on its popular VR headset, Quest 2.

https://www.sportskeeda.com/gaming-tech/what-are-quest-portals-and-how-they-will-shape-future-metaverse

Maybe Even an Apple Headset Can’t Rescue AR From Its Mundane Future—Here's Why

The big Apple news this year is supposed to be their augmented reality headset that's been rumored for a while now, but will it really make people want to use AR? That question is yet to be answered, but there are lots of reasons it may not.

https://www.lifewire.com/maybe-even-an-apple-headset-cant-rescue-ar-from-its-mundane-future-heres-why-7094906

Blockchain, Tokens & Defi - A Little More...

Polygon Proposes Hard Fork to Reduce Reorgs, Gas Spikes - Decrypt

Fork it? Ethereum sidechain Polygon has plans for a substantial upgrade this month to address two network issues.

https://decrypt.co/119099/polygon-proposes-hard-fork-to-reduce-reorgs-gas-spikes

Mastercard targets emerging musicians with web3 accelerator - Ledger Insights - blockchain for enterprise

Mastercard is launching a web3 accelerator to encourage musicians to adopt non-fungible tokens (NFT) and the metaverse for their fans

https://www.ledgerinsights.com/mastercard-web3-accelerator-musicians/

5 Unique NFT Use Cases That Will Dominate 2023

From advancements in blockchain tech to crossovers from Web2 to Web3, here are the NFT use cases that are definitely worth keeping an eye on.

https://nftnow.com/features/5-unique-nft-use-cases-that-will-dominate-2023/

Shiba Inu Developers Reveal First Look of Layer 2 Blockchain Shibarium

Ecosystem tokens shiba inu, leash and bone will serve as the the upcoming Ethereum-based blockchain.

https://www.coindesk.com/tech/2023/01/16/shiba-inu-developers-reveal-first-look-of-layer-2-blockchain-shibarium/

Crypto Trading - A Little More...

New Year, new rally: Why bitcoin is up 26% this month after a tumultuous 2022

Bitcoin has begun 2023 on a positive note. The token climbed above $21,000 on Saturday for the first time in two months, and is up 26% month-to-date.

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/01/16/why-is-bitcoin-btc-rallying-in-january.html

Founders of Bankrupt Three Arrows Capital Plan Trading Platform for Distressed Crypto Debt

The founders of Three Arrows Capital are seeking to launch an exchange where creditors to insolvent digital-assets firms, including their own, would be able to buy and sell claims.

https://www.wsj.com/articles/founders-of-bankrupt-three-arrows-capital-plan-trading-platform-for-distressed-crypto-debt-11673889546

 Industry Retro (How far we have come)

Bitcoin breaks $60,000 for the first time since April as crypto ETFs look set for watershed SEC approval

Market sentiment is on the upturn as the SEC appears ready to allow the first US bitcoin futures ETF to start trading next week.

https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/bitcoin-price-60000-futures-etf-sec-approval-trading-october-regulation-2021-10

It's October 2021 and Bitcoin surges past $60K.  Do you remember where you were?

 ESG (Environment, Social & Governance)

Ushering in a new era of Web3 gaming by making Play-to-Earn sustainable

With the Web3 gaming sector often employing unsustainable play-to-earn economic designs, a service economy approachable gamers to earn without having to invest

https://cointelegraph.com/news/ushering-in-a-new-era-of-web3-gaming-by-making-play-to-earn-sustainable

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Disclaimer: This note is distributed by Regiment, LLC for informational purposes only and is sourced from publicly available media reports.  It is not an investment recommendation or solicitation for any investment.  The information is current as of date and subject to change. In such case Regiment, LLC does not undertake to provide any updates.  Recipients must be aware that any private, alternative investments discussed are speculative in nature, often illiquid, and subject to loss of capital.