LensLinks: Issue 85

A blockchain news roundup, brought to you by Regiment LLC

Author

Len Pacek
February 02, 2023

Today in LensLinks:

  • Crypto Market January Roundup: Aptos, Metaverse-Affiliated Tokens Lead Broad-Based Rally

  • Report: Meta wins ruling against FTC to move forward with purchase of VR startup Within

  • First NFT Exchange-Traded Fund Announces Closure as Market for Non-Fungible Tokens and Metaverse Assets Cool Down

  • All Eyes on Liquid Staking Derivatives as Shanghai Upgrade Nears

  • Web3, Metaverse Not Dead, Captured Central Theme at CES23

  • Exploring the Effects of Blockchain Instability on the NFT Economy (Bankless)

  • Crypto Exploits Down 93% YoY

  • Jail Time for Crypt Tax Evaders? (India)

  • Is Crypto Toxic on Wall Street?

  • RETRO: A History of Bitcoin Hard Forks

  • And Much, Much, More…

QUOTABLE

❝

There’s so much locked SOL that’s staking. It’s helping decentralization and validation, but it’s not helping liquidity, so what we want to see is some of that stake turn into liquidity — and help DeFi protocols — and liquid staking tokens is really the mechanism for that

- Brandon Tucker, a growth lead at the DAO

NOTABLE

Crypto Market January Roundup: Aptos, Metaverse-Affiliated Tokens Lead Broad-Based Rally

Layer 1 blockchain Aptos’ native token surged over 387% this month, leading all cryptocurrencies for gains and dwarfing the performance of bitcoin and ether. Solana’s SOL token also rose.

www.coindesk.com/markets/2023/01/31/crypto-market-january-roundup-aptos-metaverse-affiliated-tokens-lead-broad-based-rally

Metaverse & Gaming

Report: Meta wins ruling against FTC to move forward with purchase of VR startup Within

Judge Edward Davila submitted a sealed decision that denied the FTC's request to take next steps in blocking Meta's acquisition of Within.

techcrunch.com/2023/02/01/report-meta-wins-ruling-against-ftc-to-move-forward-with-purchase-of-vr-startup-within

Blockchain, Tokens & DeFi

First NFT Exchange-Traded Fund Announces Closure as Market for Non-Fungible Tokens and Metaverse Assets Cool Down

The first-ever exchange-traded fund focused on NFTs and metaverse assets has announced closure as the crypto winter continues to claim more victims.

cryptonews.com/news/first-nft-exchange-traded-fund-announces-closure-as-market-for-non-fungible-tokens-and-metaverse-assets-cool-down.htm

Crypto Trading

All Eyes on Liquid Staking Derivatives as Shanghai Upgrade Nears

Following the Shanghai Upgrade, the Ethereum blockchain could potentially welcome a new cohort of stakers.

blockworks.co/news/liquid-staking-derivatives-shanghai-upgrade

Metaverse & Gaming - a little more…

Web3, Metaverse Not Dead, Captured Central Theme at CES23

“Strategies around metaverse are changing and as we push different core strategies to the enterprise side or to the consumer side, we get different elements”

analyticsindiamag.com/web3-metaverse-not-dead-captured-central-theme-at-ces23

How the Metaverse and XR Can Improve Military Training

Discussions at I/TSEC focused on how the Metaverse and XR can train warfighters for tomorrow’s battlefield.

modernbattlespace.com/2023/02/01/how-the-metaverse-and-xr-can-improve-military-training

Blockchain, Tokens & DeFi - a little more…

Breaking down stats as crypto witnesses 93% YoY decline on exploits

According to research, cryptocurrency hacks caused $8.8 million in damages in January. When compared to the $121.4 million in exploitable losses in January 2022, January’s data indicated a 92.7% drop. In addition to the bullish cryptocurrency market rebound in January 2023, there have been other encouraging industry reports. This included a decrease in exploit-related losses […]

ambcrypto.com/crypto-witnesses-93-yoy-decline-on-exploits-whats-next

Crypto Trading - a little more…

India's Crypto Tax Amendment Could Punish Evaders With Jail Time, Attorneys Say

In 2022 India instituted a 30% tax on profits and a 1% tax deducted at source (TDS) on all transactions for the crypto sector.

www.coindesk.com/policy/2023/02/01/india-keeps-restrictive-crypto-tax-rules-in-2023-budget

Crypto is now toxic on Wall Street and an overwhelming majority of traders refuse to touch it this year, according to a JPMorgan survey

A JPMorgan survey of institutional traders found that 72% don't plan on trading cryptocurrencies or digital assets this year.

markets.businessinsider.com/news/currencies/crypto-toxic-wall-street-traders-2023-outlook-ftx-bankruptcy-sbf-2023-2

Industry Retro (How Far we have come)

A History of Bitcoin Hard Forks

Bitcoin, bitcoin cash, bitcoin gold, and other variations can be hard to keep straight.

www.investopedia.com/tech/history-bitcoin-hard-forks

ESG (Environmental, Social & Governance)

WATCH: Keke Palmer Explores The Metaverse With ‘Are We There Yet?’

In these three all-new episodes, Palmer will speak with creators, educators and experts to find out where the metaverse stands now and what's coming in the future.

www.essence.com/entertainment/watch-keke-palmer-travels-to-the-metaverse-are-we-there-yet

Investment in African gaming startups gains momentum

With African mobile gamers growing from an estimated 77 million in 2015 to 186 million in 2022, gaming startups are pulling in multimillion-dollar investments

qz.com/investment-in-african-gaming-startups-gains-momentum-1850057838

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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.