DUBAI, UAE, November 23rd, 2023, Chainwire

BNB Chain, the community-driven blockchain ecosystem that includes the world’s largest smart contract blockchain, is highlighting the compelling growth stories of the projects that emerge from its project development program, starting with its hackathons. This comes in the wake of BNB Chain’s Istanbul Hackathon, which saw the emergence of a number of strong projects.

The focus of the bear market is building quality Web3 projects – this is a time for developers to concentrate on identifying what real use cases need solving. However, quarterly funding for Web3 startups has dropped by approximately 84% this year. Against this backdrop, thousands of founders have looked to alternate ways to develop their projects to the point of launch readiness.

By providing constant guidance, in addition to routinely incentivising innovation with its global hackathons, BNB Chain mentors these projects through the various stages of their development journeys as they strive to realize the immense potential of Web3. 

Below are the steps that projects can expect to partner with BNB Chain on as they work to realize their vision:

1. Ideate and develop a killer idea at a BNB Chain hackathon
2. Win a reward at the hackathon that allows for initial development
3. Develop further with constant guidance from BNB Chain
4. Get introduced to incubators who can supercharge your project
5. Launch your project on-chain 

BNB Chain Hackathon winners also receive referral codes to apply to the Most Valuable Builder (MVB) to potentially increase their funding. The program – run by BNB Chain and Binance Labs – helps projects develop and grow through mentorship, funding and network support*.

BNB Chain’s recent Istanbul Hackathon saw a number of exciting projects start on this journey, with a number of the winners sharing how they plan to utilize their winnings to advance their projects. 

MoveSpace, an on-chain data labeling and marketplace powered by a vector database, is addressing the data transparency issue in AI training to incentivise human interactions with data with BNB Greenfield. Using the funds they won at the BNB Chain Hackathon, they are further refining their concept – making data tradable as a regular commodity or asset – to make data ownership meaningful, setting them up for success at their first round of fundraising.

Another winning project exemplifying the practical applications of blockchain technology is ZeroX, a Web3 Gaming platform with a core mission of onboarding users to Web3 through gaming. Offering SDK and API services for traditional game development, they are lowering the barriers for traditional game developers and gamers to enter Web3. They will allocate the funds they won at the Istanbul hackathon to accelerate their growth and incorporate BNB Greenfield into their product, putting them in a leading position for their first funding round and upcoming public product launch. 

Learn more about all of the winning projects, their experiences of BNB Chain Hackathon Istanbul and how it is accelerating their growth here.

Tomasz Wojewoda, Head of Business Development at BNB Chain, said: “The quality of the projects that emerged from the BNB Chain Istanbul Hackathon was truly remarkable. It has been great to see their Web3 spirit on full display and to see how they are leveraging opBNB and BNB Greenfield to accelerate their development. Myself and the BNB Chain team look forward to being by the developers’ sides and providing guidance as they continue to build towards realizing their vision.”

*Disclaimer: There is no guarantee that projects will be accepted to the MVB program.  

About BNB Chain

BNB Chain is a community-driven ecosystem with multiple decentralized blockchains, powered by BNB. It consists of BNB Beacon Chain, its staking and governance layer, BNB Smart Chain (BSC), which is EVM compatible and facilitates a multi-chain ecosystem with its Layer-2 solutions including opBNB, and BNB Greenfield, its decentralized data storage network. 

The BNB Chain ecosystem has the world’s largest smart contract blockchain (BSC) by daily active users and has processed 3 billion transactions to date from 232 Million unique addresses. This makes it the largest layer 1 blockchain globally and brings developers massive user access with ultra-low gas fees, higher transactions per second and has experienced zero crashes since its inception. The ecosystem has more than 1,500 estimated active dApps at any given time across multiple categories such as DeFi, Metaverse, Blockchain Gaming, SocialFi, NFT, Infrastructure, and more. There are numerous programs available to support the Web3 ecosystem including the Gas Grant, Builder Grant, Kickstart, Most Valuable Builder (MVB) and AvengerDAO.

Contact

Jack S
jack.sutherland@bnbchain.org

DUBAI, UAE, November 22nd, 2023, Chainwire

• November 19 saw BSC record more than 9.5M transactions in a single day
• Earlier in the week, BSC demonstrated gas price stability during a similar surge

On November 19, 2023, BNB Chain, the community-driven blockchain ecosystem, saw its highest traffic rates since May of 2022 with transactions exceeding 9.5M for the day. More than 7M of the 9.5M daily transactions were attributed to inscription minting transactions on BNB Smart Chain (BSC).

The 1-year high comes amid a week of traffic surges on BSC. November 17 likewise saw a spike in traffic, with gas prices on BSC remaining consistent during the surge. On November 17, with TPS (transactions per second) reaching almost 250 at the peak, gas prices remained consistent at the $0.016 threshold.

While TPS rose to almost 250 on Nov. 17, gas prices on BSC remained steady at $0.016.

BSC’s very large block size is what allows it to handle spikes in traffic smoothly while maintaining a stable gas price. With TPS at around 200, the usage of the block is only at around 15-20%, meaning that the network still has plenty of space left to handle further traffic. 

Learn more about BNB Smart Chain here.

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About BNB Chain

BNB Chain is a community-driven ecosystem with multiple decentralized blockchains, powered by BNB. It consists of BNB Beacon Chain, its staking and governance layer, BNB Smart Chain (BSC), which is EVM compatible and facilitates a multi-chain ecosystem with its Layer-2 solutions including opBNB, and BNB Greenfield, its decentralized data storage network. 

The BNB Chain ecosystem has the world’s largest smart contract blockchain (BSC) by daily active users and has processed 3 billion transactions to date from 232 Million unique addresses. This makes it the largest layer 1 blockchain globally and brings developers massive user access with ultra-low gas fees, higher transactions per second and has experienced zero crashes since its inception. The ecosystem has more than 1,500 estimated active dApps at any given time across multiple categories such as DeFi, Metaverse, Blockchain Gaming, SocialFi, NFT, Infrastructure, and more. There are numerous programs available to support the Web3 ecosystem including the Gas Grant, Builder Grant, Kickstart, Most Valuable Builder (MVB) and AvengerDAO. 

Contact

Jack S
jack.sutherland@bnbchain.org

Singapore, Singapore, November 22nd, 2023, Chainwire

GC Exchange FZE (GCEX), part of the GCEX Group, has been granted an Operational VASP Licence for VA Broker Dealer services from Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA).

GCEX, which opened its Dubai office in July 2022 and received its MVP (Minimal Viable Product) Preparatory License from VARA in February 2023, can now start market operations as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) in the Emirate of Dubai, enabling brokers, hedge funds, family offices and professional traders to access its deep liquidity in digital assets and range of technology solutions.

GCEX facilitates institutional access to digital assets through its proprietary XplorDigital trading solutions, which comprises of a technology-agnostic platform covering regulation, regulated custody, the safety of funds, tier 1 liquidity and technology (both back-end and front-end). GCEX only partners with regulated institutional digital custody and staking providers and always segregates client funds.

Mehtap Önder, Managing Director, GCEX in Dubai, commented, “VARA is leading the way in the global digital asset industry, and we are extremely proud to be one of the first firms to receive a VASP Operating Licence to provide Virtual Asset Broker-Dealer services and the first firm to gain approval to operate with a client money account, highlighting our focus on client protection.

“Being a regulated entity in the region is important to us – it’s the ideal way to demonstrate our commitment to adhering to international standards and implementing robust processes, with transparency and investor protection at the core of our offering. This is a major milestone for our business and is critical to GCEX’s growth strategy, enabling us to have a stronger presence in the region.”                                         

GCEX Group enables institutional clients to access deep liquidity in FX and CFDs on digital assets, as well as digital assets spot trading and conversion as well as a broad range of trading solutions. Headquartered in London, with multiple offices across the globe, GCEX is regulated by the UK’s FCA and registered with the Danish FSA. True Global Ventures are investors in GCEX.

 For further information, please visit gcexmena.com or LinkedIn

About GCEX

Founded in 2018, GCEX is a pioneering regulated digital prime brokerage with a best-of-breed digital asset and FX platform for institutional and professional clients. GCEX has partnerships with Tier 1 trusted Liquidity Providers, leading counterparties and regulated digital custody asset institutions. GCEX offers a wide range of products and technology solutions including White Labels.

GCEX is a trading name of GC Exchange Limited, GC Exchange Fondsmæglerselskab A/S, GC Exchange A/S and GC Exchange FZE. GC Exchange Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales (No11382809) with registered address at 75 King William Street, London, EC4N 7BE provides FX and CFDs products. GC Exchange Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 828730).

Digital asset services are provided by GC Exchange A/S, a company incorporated in Denmark (CVR 43088777) with address at Amager Strandvej 390, 2770, Kastrup. GC Exchange A/S is authorised by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority as a Currency Exchange (FTID 45020) and registered as a Virtual Asset Service Provider (FTID 17524) under the AML regulation.

GC Exchange Fondsmæglerselskab A/S, a company incorporated in Denmark (CVR 43345052) with address at Amager Strandvej 390, 2770, Kastrup. GC Exchange Fondsmæglerselskab A/S is authorised and regulated by the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority as an Investment Firm to offer FX and CFD products.

GC Exchange FZE is incorporated as a Limited Liability Free Zone Establishment under the Dubai World Trade Center Authority with registration number 1896. GC Exchange FZE has been granted a Virtual Asset Service Provider Licence by the Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority. For more information visit: https://www.vara.ae/

About VARA

Established in March 2022, following the effect of Law No.4 of 2022, VARA is the competent entity in charge of regulating, supervising, and overseeing VAs and VA Activities in all zones across the Emirate of Dubai, including Special Development Zones and Free Zones but excluding the Dubai International Financial Centre. VARA plays a central role in creating Dubai’s advanced legal framework to protect investors and establish international standards for Virtual Asset industry governance, while supporting the vision for a borderless economy.

Contact

Vanessa Green
Wigwam PR for GCEX
vanessa@wigwampr.com
+44 (0)771 333 2303

Zug, Switzerland, November 21st, 2023, Chainwire

Future3 Campus, in partnership with The Open Network (TON) Foundation, has today announced the launch of The TON Bootcamp, an incubation program to foster mini-app development within TON’s Web3 ecosystem in Telegram. The 15 selected teams may receive support for integrating into TON’s Web3 ecosystem and stand a chance to get up to USD $500,000 in funding from Future3 Campus. Applications to be selected for The TON Bootcamp are open until December 18, 2023.

The TON Bootcamp is a Web2.5 incubator, empowering developers to create mini-apps that bridge the Web2 experience with the decentralized benefits of Web3. The program will run for five months and offer selected participants a chance to receive significant funding for their projects. The Bootcamp is focused on supporting projects building real-world payment and gaming solutions to seamlessly integrate into TON’s flourishing Web3 ecosystem in Telegram. 

Participants in the Bootcamp may take advantage of a spectrum of marketplace opportunities, including showcasing their projects on Tapps.Center, enjoying the same visibility that has brought other TON-based applications success. TON Foundation’s team of seasoned blockchain professionals will offer hands-on mentorship and guidance, helping developers navigate the intricacies of integrating their solutions within Telegram’s ecosystem.

The selected projects may also receive the funding and support necessary to deploy their mini-apps in a system designed for the mass adoption of Web3 products. These resources include marketing amplification within TON’s ecosystem and priority access to an active audience of over 800 million monthly users on Telegram. The TON Bootcamp may also equip projects with mentorship from leaders at top blockchain investment institutions and office spaces in Hong Kong, Singapore, and Japan. Bootcamp participants may have the opportunity to present their products and services to an audience of entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and investors at Web3 Festival 2024’s demo day pitch and showcase events.

The TON Bootcamp is an unprecedented opportunity for mini-app developers to transform their visions into reality. Builders worldwide are encouraged to seize this opportunity before applications close on December 18, 2023.

Projects seeking to apply for the TON Bootcamp may click here: https://echo3.ucraft.site

About The Open Network:

The Open Network (TON) is a global, decentralized blockchain community focused on putting crypto in every pocket. By building the Web3 ecosystem in Telegram Messenger, TON’s vision is to empower 800 million users to own their digital identity, data, and assets by 2028. Learn more at https://ton.org/.

About Future3 Campus

The Future3 Campus is a Web3.0-oriented incubation platform powered by Wanxiang Blockchain Labs and HashKey Capital with a mission to promote and foster entrepreneurship and innovation in Web3.0. Focusing on Web3.0 Massive Adoption, DePIN and AI, the Future3 Campus kicks off a $50 million seed fund in Web3.0 incubation worldwide. For more information, please visit http://www.future3.io/#/home, or contact us at contact@future3.io.

Contact

TON Foundation
ton@theagencypartnership.com

San Francisco, CA, November 20th, 2023, Chainwire

Latest Round Led by Placeholder to Fuel Layer-1 Protocol with Fastest Developer Growth this Cycle

Saga, a top Layer-1 protocol and developer ecosystem in web3, today announced the raise of its $5 million seed extension round led by Placeholder, a premier venture capital firm that invests in decentralized protocols and web3 services. This investment marks the largest percentage stake in a pre-Layer-1 launch in Placeholder’s history. Additional investors in this latest round include Longhash Ventures, Com2uS, Dispersion Capital, Red Beard Ventures, Tykhe Ventures and AVID3, among others. To date, Saga has raised a total of $13.5 million.

Saga will continue its projected growth by expanding its team of cutting-edge technologists, ambitiously building its community and ecosystem activation via strategic partnerships, and growing its Saga Innovator Program. In less than two years, Saga has 295 Innovator projects building on its protocol, and anticipates over 300 when the Saga Mainnet launches in early 2024. Additionally, Saga has cemented partnerships with flagship web3 projects including Polygon, Avalanche, and Celestia, positioning itself as a leader in web3 development.

“Saga’s vision is to unblock developers from the high barriers to successfully building in web3,” said Rebecca Liao, Co-founder and CEO of Saga. “We’re thrilled to have Placeholder lead this round, as they, along with our other amazing investors, are helping to empower and accelerate our support of projects with the Integrated Stack – what developers have been waiting for to easily create consumer apps for broad adoption.” 

Saga is the next iteration of a base protocol in web3 – hyper-focused on developer needs, and dedicated to ensuring blockspace is abundant and can be simply accessed. For every monolithic L1, blockspace has come to mean scarcity, creating high and variable gas fees, congestion, and throughput limitations. The modular stack attempts to solve these problems with paralyzing complexity: rollups, data availability, fraud proofs and shared sequencers are all separate components that have their own cost and performance challenges. Saga’s Integrated Stack is the next disruption in web3.

Saga is hot off the heels of launching its Incentivized Testnet (ITN), named Pegasus. After only two weeks, Pegasus logged over 150,000 transactions and opened 30,000 wallets, with one of the highest numbers of participants and transactions for an ITN. Saga will be airdropping tokens to Pegasus participants – and other community members outside the ITN – on performance in predetermined quests. Additional details can be found here. 

“We expect blockchain architectures in the coming years to be much more reminiscent of cloud architectures, with Saga purpose-built to help usher in that future,” said Chris Burniske, Partner at Placeholder. “On-demand blockspace provisioning, paired with cutting-edge validator orchestration, sets Saga up to provide blockspace as it’s needed in a horizontal, scale-out fashion akin to the cloud environments of today. The Saga team has roots going back to the earliest days of Cosmos, alongside power players in research, engineering, and politics, setting Saga up to lead a major movement within web3.”

Saga continues to bring leading web3 projects, developers and creators together in the Saga Multiverse through its strategic partnerships and encouraging collaboration among its ecosystem and community. The Saga protocol offers an integrated stack of automated, high-performance, gasless, interoperable, and customizable chains, called Chainlets. Saga developers can interoperate freely among Chainlets and take advantage of fast bridging to other ecosystems via fast transaction finality on Chainlets. This allows developers to not only move assets, communications and creations cross-chain, but also to elastically scale their applications across multiple Chainlets. Developers can therefore experience limitless performance and scalability that is only possible with Saga.

Note: The airdrop is not and will not be available to U.S. persons (or persons acting on behalf of U.S. persons). In order to participate in the airdrop, a person or entity must not be a U.S. Person as defined in Rule 902 under the United States Securities Act of 1933 or a U.S. person within the meaning Section 7701(a)(30) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. A full terms and conditions for participation in the airdrop will be made available as part of the claims process.

About Saga

Recognized as a leading developer ecosystem in crypto and web3 gaming, Saga is creating the developer environment of the future. Its mission is to help creators unblock themselves and build where blockspace is at its most plentiful and simple. Saga was founded in 2022. Early seed investors include Placeholder, Maven11, Longhash, Samsung, Com2uS, and Polygon. Originally built on Cosmos, Saga has furthered its presence by bringing typically disparate but the best ecosystems into its Saga Multiverse through ongoing strategic partnerships.

To learn more about the Saga protocol, check out Saga’s website, litepaper, and developer documentation. Be sure to join Saga’s Discord and Telegram and follow Saga on Twitter for the latest news and updates.

Contact

Sonia Im | Angella Austin
ONE PR Studio [for Saga]
saga.xyz@oneprstudio.com