Lethbridge College teams up with Liquid Avatar Technologies to create a virtual campus in the metaverse

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Ray Speers
March 04,2022

Lethbridge College teams up with Liquid Avatar Technologies to 
create a virtual campus in the metaverse


A virtual Lethbridge College will be the first of its kind, allowing students to occupy property in 
the metaverse

March 3, 2022  Today, Lethbridge Colleges Centre for Technology, Environment and Design
(CTED) announced that it is partnering with Liquid Avatar Technologies Inc., a publicly traded 
global blockchain and fintech solutions company, to launch a first of its kind work-integrated 
learning opportunity for students. Liquid Avatar Technologies is providing 9,000 plots of land 
within its Aftermath Islands Metaverse a network of spaces where users can create a virtual 
world parallel to their physical one. Students will begin engaging in the new program and 
mentorship opportunities by the end of the winter 2022 semester.


Collectively named Lethbridge College Island, on Aftermath Islands, Lethbridge students will 
learn how to work, play, learn, game, entertain and earn in the metaverse. In addition to the 
virtual land, up to 100,000 in-game currency credits are being made available to the college. 
Those credits can be used to build, buy and trade assets like additional property, objects, 
landscape items and even avatars.


Students in Interior Design Technology, Virtual and Augmented Reality and Architectural 
Animation Technology programs will build on the virtual island creating structures and 
businesses and completing transactions. Each student will receive a plot of virtual land. The plot 
and all the assets they create for it will remain their property for as long as they choose. The 
college will also have a significant parcel of virtual land to provide students with virtual events, 
learning and other services.


Im so excited for this partnership with Liquid Avatar Technologies, says Cherie Bowker, chair 
of Lethbridge Colleges School of Spatial Design Technologies. Our students will learn so much 
about entrepreneurship and building in the metaverse and will gain a much greater 
understanding of digital space and digital identity while these worlds evolve and grow. We are 
proud of how we lead in this space, and we are thrilled to work with the skillful, talented and 
creative Liquid Avatar team.


David Lucatch, President, CEO and Chair of Liquid Avatar Technologies, has spent the past 25 
years developing technologies and taking them to market. Part of his recent resume includes 
co-founding Aftermath Islands Metaverse a planned virtual environment that provides online 
users with theme-based first-person Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) 
experiences, quests, games and integrated e-commerce activities. David, and the team at 
Liquid Avatar Technologies will also be mentoring Lethbridge College students to further 
process their education in the metaverse.


Providing the next generation of creative and technical thinkers with the tools to engage in 
new technologies that are primed to change consumer behaviour is an exciting opportunity for 
Liquid Avatar Technologies and Aftermath Islands, said David Lucatch, President, CEO & Chair, 
Liquid Avatar Technologies and Managing Director of Aftermath Islands Metaverse Limited. We 
envision this collaboration with Lethbridge College as a sandbox for learning and acquiring 
significant tangible experience, providing Canadian students with an advantage when entering 
the evolving job market.


CTED students will have hands-on opportunities to build out Lethbridge College Island by 
working closely with experts in the field, as well as faculty, who will mentor them in the 
development of the property. 


Our students are sure to gain a better sense of working outside their comfort zones as they 
tackle real-world problems and develop core competencies such as collaboration and leadership, 
while at the same time increasing their employability, says Candace Lewko, Associate Dean of 
the Centre for Technology, Environment and Design. We are confident our students will be 
making an impact and will be equipped with all the skills necessary to join the workforce.

About Lethbridge College 

Established in 1957 as Canadas first publicly funded community college, Lethbridge College is a 
board-governed institution serving the training and applied research needs of southern Alberta. 
As we approach our 65th anniversary, we look to the horizon and recognize the need to address 
our growing populations of learners, and to facilitate innovation and new opportunities. We will 
continue to build on our successes and stay in tune with the changing world of technology and 
sustainability. 


About Aftermath Islands Metaverse Limited - www.aftermathislands.com

Aftermath Islands Metaverse Limited is a Barbados corporation which is 50% owned and is 
controlled by Oasis Digital Studios Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Liquid Avatar 
Technologies Inc.


Aftermath Islands as first described in the initial whitepaper published in 2017 and then 
subsequently updated, was based on the premise of a water-world with islands that 
represented destinations in a global virtual game. Since then, the Aftermath Islands metaverse 
has evolved and now represents exciting themed based islands, communities, and estates 
where players can experience a wide range of adventures and opportunities.


In Aftermath Islands virtual world, users can buy, develop, trade, and sell Virtual Land (VL), 
property and assets, like buildings, crafted items, transport, and other items all through NFTs, a 
non-fungible token that represents the ownership of virtual and other assets. Each plot or 
parcel of VL is unique and owners get to choose what content they want to publish on their VL. 
This can range from simple scenery and structures to an interactive game, store, warehouse, 
dwelling, facility, or destination. Users can purchase VL as well as all other goods and services 
in Aftermath Islands with CREDITS, the current code name for in-game currency, fiat and other 
authorized currencies, coins, and tokens.


Aftermath Islands is a shared virtual world, much like the Metaverse described by author Ernest 
Cline in his science-fiction novels Ready Player One and Ready Player Two. Expected to launch 
mid-2022, Aftermath Islands will allow users to connect and interact with each other, create 
content, craft, participate in activities and quests and play games. Aftermath Islands will have a 
virtual economy where users can engage in a myriad of in-world economic transactions as well 
as monetize the content, items, quests, and applications they build.


For more information about Aftermath Islands, please visit www.aftermathislands.com

About Liquid Avatar Technologies Inc. - www.liquidavatartechnologies.com

Liquid Avatar Technologies Inc. focuses on the verification, management and monetization of 
Self Sovereign Identity, empowering users to control and benefit from the use of their online 
identity.

The Liquid Avatar Mobile App, available in the Apple App Store and Google Play is a verified Self 
Sovereign Identity platform that empowers users to create high quality digital icons 
representing their online personas. These icons allow users to manage and control their digital 
identity and Verifiable Access and Identity Credentials, and to use Liquid Avatars to share public 
and permission based private data when they want and with whom they want.

The Liquid Avatar Verifiable Credentials Ecosystem (LAVCE) has been developed to support all 
participants in a digital credential ecosystem, including the Holder, Issuer and Verifier, using 
state-of-the-art blockchain and open standards technologies initially as a node on the Indicio 
Network. The Company is a voting and steering committee member of the Trust over IP 
Foundation, founding and steering committee member of Cardea, a Linux Foundation Public 
Health project, member of the Good Health Pass collaborative, DIACC, the Covid Credentials 
Initiative ("CCI"), The Linux Foundation and a founding member of the Lumedic Exchange.
The Company has a suite of early-stage revenue generating programs that support the Liquid 
Avatar Mobile App program, including KABN KASH, a cash back and reward program that has 
over 500 leading online merchants and is working to release its own branded network payment 
card.


The Companys subsidiary, Oasis Digital Studios, is a creative and development agency that 
supports a wide range of artists, talent, and enterprises with Non-Fungible Token (NFT) 
solutions and has acquired 50% and control of the Aftermath Islands Metaverse program.
Liquid Avatar Technologies Inc. is publicly listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) 
under the symbol "LQID" (CSE:LQID).

The Company also trades in the United States, on the OTCQB under the symbol "LQAVF" and in 
Frankfurt under the symbol "4T51".

If you have not already joined our mailing list and would like to receive updates on Liquid 
Avatar Technologies Inc., please click here to join!

For more information, please visit www.liquidavatartechnologies.com

For further information, please contact: 
David Lucatch
Chief Executive Officer
647-725-7742 Ext. 701
[email protected]

Media Contact:
Amber Mulder
No Fixed Address
[email protected]

Tina Karst
Media Relations Specialist, Lethbridge College
[email protected]


The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

All websites referred to are expressly not incorporated by reference into this press release.

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable 
Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute forward-looking 
statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities 
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not 
representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the 
Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are 
inherently uncertain and outside of the Companys control. Generally, such forward-looking information or 
forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, 
expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, 
anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or may contain 
statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, will 
continue, will occur or will be achieved. 

The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein include, but is not 
limited to, statements regarding the future launch of in-game activities, sales of digital and physical 
collectibles, Non-Fungible Tokens and other related products through Oasis Digital Studios and / or its 
clients, partners and other service providers, statements regarding the future capabilities of LAVCE or the 
operation of an Indicio Network Node, expected geographic expansion, the ability of the Company to 
generate revenues, roll out new programs and to successfully achieve business objectives, and expectations 
for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.


By identifying such information and statements in this manner, the Company is alerting the reader that 
such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors 
that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of the Company to be 
materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. 

Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations 
contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not 
be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such 
forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events 
could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking 
information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this 
press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or 
forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable 
securities laws







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April 28,2024

Bitcoin Floats Around $64K As Altcoins See Red

Despite its best efforts, any attempts Bitcoin (BTC) has made recently to try and recover its price have been unsuccessful, with the asset dropping to $62,400 before bouncing back to around $63,000. Meanwhile, SOL, DOGE, ADA, HBAR, and RNDR are among the weakest performers within a 24 hour period. Infact, most of the market is seeing a downturn currently, and the total crypto market cap has also decreased by $150 billion over the past two days.

 

BTC Falls To $63K

The price movements for the flagship crypto both before and after the fourth halving, completed last Friday, have been relatively lackluster. Despite a slight recovery after the Iran-Israel tensions, during which it stood above $65,000 following the reduction in block rewards, it struggled to maintain momentum, even testing $67,000 a few times. However, it faced challenges amid increasing ETF outflows.

Conversely, BTC has been rapidly losing value in recent days. Although it has regained some ground, Bitcoin is still struggling to reach the $70,000 once more. Elsewhere, ETH, BNB, XRP, and TON are also experiencing declines, albeit less severe. TRX is among the few alts showing gains today. However, many other lower- and mid-cap alts have recorded notable losses over the past day as well. Consequently, the total crypto market cap has fallen by $50 billion overnight and $150 billion since Thursday, dropping to under $2.450 trillion on CoinGecko.

 

Other Markets

Amidst a surge in US stocks, the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) witnessed a notable rise, resulting in the best week for stocks in 2024 thus far. However, Wall Street faced unexpected challenges as markets displayed swift reversals, confounding industry professionals. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve Chairman Powell re-emphasised a prolonged period of elevated inflation.

In other market developments, the next US LNG export plant is gearing up to commence production by mid-2024, while the Fed is shaping a new equities playbook in Asia. On the energy front, Ukraine endured a missile barrage and retaliated with strikes on a Russian refinery, underscoring the ongoing tensions. Lastly, Zimbabwe introduced a new currency called ZiG, receiving praise by many for its potential economic benefits.

 

April 27,2024

Eminem Gets Involved With Crypto Through New Ad

Immensely popular American rapper Marshall Mathers, also known as Eminem and Slim Shady, recently teamed up with Crypto.com for their latest advertising campaign. The ad features Eminem strolling through a gym, blending the concept of industry peak with crypto-related phrases like PoW Proof-of-Work.

 

Sparking Conversations

While initial buzz has subsided, it sparked sketches and discussions designed to captivate and engage audiences while promoting the brand. Despite the attention garnered by the ad, the price of the Crypto.com token, Cronos (CRO), hovered around $0.13 on average.

The notorious volatility of the cryptocurrency market underscores the central theme, which is the uncertainty surrounding the value of the endorsed cryptocurrency and its impact on the market. Moreover, celebrity involvement in crypto advertising often presents a controversial angle. Matt Damon, for instance, clarified that his participation was tied to his charity, Water.org, rather than a direct endorsement of the cryptocurrency industry.

 

Celebrities Navigating Crypto Endorsements

Celebrity appearances in crypto-related ads have become commonplace over the years. An intriguing facet of past campaigns was their online presence, set against a digital backdrop featuring historical figures, symbolizing the adventurous nature of the virtual currency realm.

This era also witnessed the renaming of the iconic Los Angeles Staples Center to the newly named Crypto.com Arena, serving as the backdrop for Eminem for most of his crypto-oriented work. Celebrity involvement in cryptocurrency ads has yielded mixed results, fostering technological awareness while igniting debates, especially following the 2022 collapse of FTX.

As the landscape of big-name celebrities in crypto advertising evolves, it prompts discussions about the industry itself. While immediate price movements may be subtle, the long-term impact of these endorsements on public perception and regulations warrants increased attention going forward.

 

April 26,2024

ConsenSys Fights Back Against The SEC And Initiates Legal Action

ConsenSys has initiated legal action against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), asserting that the SEC attempting to assert control over Ethereum (ETH) constitutes an unlawful seizure of authority. The core issue here is the classification of Ethereum as a security, which ConsenSys vehemently opposes.

 

Defending The Community

Operating via Fort Worth, Texas, ConsenSys is not only defending its own interests but also advocating for the broader Ethereum community. They have taken the matter to federal court to seek clarity on Ethereum and its current status, emphasizing that ETH is not a security. They argue that treating it as such would infringe on Fifth Amendment rights and violate the Administrative Procedures Act.

ConsenSys warns that if Ethereum is classified as a security, it could severely impede innovation and usage of Ethereum in the U.S., potentially causing significant losses for Ether holders and hindering the broader blockchain ecosystem.

ConsenSys Head Joe Lubin, who is also a key figure within the Ethereum ecosystem, stressed the importance of this legal battle in preserving opportunities for developers and market participants involved in Ethereum. He asserts that Ether has historically been treated as a commodity, not a security, and challenges any jurisdiction that the SEC claims to have  over it.

 

Stopping The SEC

Unsurprisingly, ConsenSys aims to prevent the SEC when it comes to regulating Ether, Ethereum-based interfaces, or the blockchain itself, arguing that they do not meet the criteria for securities. They emphasize the role of Ethereum as a commodity and its significance in various non-financial applications across sectors like healthcare and energy.

The fight extends beyond Ethereum, as ConsenSys is also defending the future of blockchain innovation in the U.S. Lubin warns that subjecting Ethereum to outdated securities laws would hinder U.S. progress in the blockchain space and allow other countries to take the lead.

 

The MetaMask Issue

ConsenSys is adamant that its MetaMask wallet does not function as a broker, and its staking services do not violate securities laws. They are urging the SEC to not investigate the swap or staking functionalities of MetaMask. In any case, the lawsuit underscores the serious ramifications of SEC intervention.

Moreover, ConsenSys emphasizes that the MetaMask wallet is designed to empower users to participate in Web3 industries, facilitating tasks such as managing digital identities and conducting crypto transactions. They reject the notion of labeling developers of such tools as securities brokers, which they believe would impede progress in the Web3 domain.

 

April 26,2024

Popular Crypto Influencer Sentenced To Seven Years In Prison

Jay Mazini, also known as Jabara Igbara, who claimed to be a crypto millionaire on Instagram, has been sentenced to seven years in prison by U.S. District Judge Frederic Block for wire fraud and money laundering. He must also forfeit $10 million.

Labelled a crypto con man by the Office of the United States Attorney, Igbara, 28, admitted to carrying out multiple fraud schemes, scamming investors of at least $8 million. He pleaded guilty in November 2022.

 

Caught Red Handed

According to United States Attorney Breon Peace, the prosecution of Igbara revealed him as a fraudster who exploited his social media popularity to deceive investors, particularly through his religious community, and spend their money recklessly. Peace hopes the sentence will deter fraudsters like Igbara when it comes to exploiting investors for personal gain.

Thomas Fattorusso, Special Agent-in-Charge of the Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation, described Igbara as a con man who duped the New York Muslim community out of millions and squandered the funds on personal expenses and gambling. Fattorusso emphasized that Igbara will face consequences for his crimes.

 

Exploiting The Community

Between 2019 to 2021, Igbara, under the alias Jay Mazini, amassed nearly one million followers on Instagram, portraying himself as a successful investor and devout Muslim. He flaunted his supposed wealth by giving away large sums of cash in videos posted on Instagram.

Operating through Halal Capital LLC, Igbara orchestrated an investment fraud scheme targeting Muslim-Americans in New York, soliciting funds for fake investments in various ventures. In reality, he ran a Ponzi scheme, using the funds for personal expenses and gambling.

To sustain the illusion of profitability and retain investors, Igbara initiated a second fraudulent scheme, offering above-market prices for cryptocurrencies on social media. After receiving crypto through his victims, he fabricated wire transfer confirmations to deceive them into believing they had been paid, while pocketing the crypto himself.

 

April 25,2024

Solana Community Looks Forward To Much Needed Update

Scheduled for May 27th, 2024, Solana (SOL) is poised to unveil the mainnet beta along with a crucial patch aimed at addressing various persistent bugs within the network. The forthcoming beta iteration, labeled v1.18, focuses on resolving congestion issues that have recently brought the network to a standstill.

 

Addressing Key Concerns

Solana is currently evaluating new solutions to alleviate network congestion. The surge in traffic, particularly because of high-volume meme coin-related bot transactions, has significantly strained capacity, leading to a decline in network speed and an increase in transaction failures within the cryptocurrency sphere. In response, the Solana development team, in collaboration with Anza, introduced devnet version 1.18.11 on April 13th. Presently, this version is undergoing validation by the necessary validators in preparation for the beta launch of the mainnet, scheduled for late May.

In addition to regular testing, version 1.17.31 was deployed on April 15th to address network congestion issues. These adjustments were swiftly recommended for implementation by validators. The strategizer release represents one of several efforts made to stabilize the network amidst significant fluctuations in transaction volume.

 

Still A Ways To Go

While Solana has made strides in technological enhancements, it continues to grapple with market volatility. In early April, the cryptocurrency experienced a substantial price drop of over 22%, plummeting to $116. However, it has since shown signs of recovery, with its price now hovering around $154.86. These fluctuations underscore the challenges and uncertainties inherent in the digital currency market.

The latest update by Solana aims to bolster network capacity to meet increasing demands and enhance system security. With the impending release of Millennium v1.18, the community is closer than ever to achieving its primary objectives. Continuous scrutiny of these developments by the community and stakeholders ensures the creation of a functional, accessible, and replicable network.

As technical updates coincide with market recovery, Solana remains committed to safeguarding network infrastructure and navigating market dynamics remains pivotal to its growth and stability.

 

April 25,2024

Bitcoin Makes History By Becoming The Scarcest Asset In The World

After the latest halving, the inflation rate of Bitcoin (BTC) has now dropped to 0.83%, lower than that of gold, making BTC the scarcest asset in history. The block rewards for miners have been permanently reduced by half, marking the fourth halving. This adjustment brings the block rewards down to 3.125 BTC compared to the previous amount of 6.25 BTC.

 

The Importance Of The Halving

The block rewards, the only way new cryptocurrency is minted, are distributed to miners at a near-constant rate, irrespective of mining conditions, thanks to the coded Difficulty concept in the network. When miners increase computing power, the network adjusts the Difficulty to maintain the desired pace of block rewards distribution.

As a result, the Bitcoin supply grows almost continuously between halving events. Consequently, the Issuance, or the amount of cryptocurrency miners produce daily, remains relatively constant. Therefore, the inflation rate of Bitcoin also remains stable within these Halving periods, halving alongside the Issuance during halving events.

 

Scarcity Matters

Bitcoin is scarce because of its fixed supply limit of 21 million coins, enforced by its protocol. This scarcity is further emphasized by the periodic halving events, which reduce the rate of new coin creation, making a whole Bitcoin increasingly difficult to obtain over time.

With the latest halving, the aforementioned inflation rate has once again decreased. In the last epoch, the annualized inflation rate was about 1.7%, which has now dropped to 0.85% in the new epoch. This achievement places Bitcoin ahead of gold, as its steady-state issuance rate is now lower than the precious metal, marking a historic moment in the comparison of the scarcest assets.

 

April 24,2024

HBAR Skyrockets After BlackRock Successfully Tokenizes MMF On Hedera

Archax, Ownera, and The HBAR Foundation recently facilitated the initial tokenization of the BlackRock Money Market Fund (MMF) on the Hedera blockchain, marking a significant milestone in the real-world assets (RWAs) domain.

 

The Importance Of MMFs

In a historic moment for the RWAs industry, Archax, a digital asset exchange based in London, successfully digitized the BlackRock ICS US Treasury MMF on the Hedera (HBAR) blockchain. Collaborating with the HBAR Foundation and the institutional-grade digital assets platform Ownera, Archax brought the MMF onto the Hedera network.

MMFs play a pivotal role in boosting the RWAs sector, offering attractive investment options characterized by institutional stability and yield. Tokenized MMFs allow for share trading on exchanges like Archax, offering additional benefits such as instant transfer and collateral deployment, beyond traditional subscriptions and redemptions.

 

HBAR Surges

Shayne Higdon, CEO of The HBAR Foundation, expressed confidence in Hedera and its innovative as well as reliable infrastructure, emphasizing its unmatched speed, security, and cost-effectiveness for institutional-grade tokenization, enabled by Archax.

Following the announcement, the price of HBAR surged to a four-week high, increasing by over 46% to reach $0.1314 on Tuesday. Preceding the news, the token traded around $0.087 and has now reached its highest level since March 27th. CoinGecko data indicates a more than 600% spike in the 24-hour trading volume of HBAR, surpassing $346 million.

April 24,2024

Jack Dorsey Will Tap Into Africa For New Bitcoin Mining Initiative

Jack Dorsey unveiled that Block (formerly Square) is broadening its Bitcoin (BTC) mining endeavors, as the company will no longer simply design chips as they will also be developing an entire BTC mining system going forward. The new mining system will reportedly tap into solar, hydro, and geothermal energy to run Bitcoin mines across Africa.

 

Improving Accessibility

The global tech company recently announced the completion of its proprietary three-nanometer Bitcoin mining chip and its ongoing collaboration with a leading global semiconductor foundry for the design of said chip. Additionally, Block revealed intentions to expand the scope of its mining project to encompass system design, aiming to address challenges identified through discussions with various bitcoin miners. Their objective is to foster mining decentralization by offering both standalone mining chips and complete mining systems.

The overall mission statement emphasizes democratizing access to Bitcoin mining, making the process of creating new BTC more accessible to a wider audience. Dorsey initially expressed this sentiment when Block ventured into mining hardware in 2021, highlighting the complexity and lack of incentive for individuals to engage in mining.

 

Addressing Key Concerns

Concerns within the crypto community regarding hardware vulnerabilities and the concentration of ASIC chip manufacturing in China have also influenced this new initiative. By decentralizing the supply of mining hardware and the distribution of hashrate, Block aims to enhance industry competition and mitigate network stability risks.

To address barriers to entry such as cost and availability of mining rigs, Block aims to improve reliability and user experience by focusing on issues like heat dissipation and noise reduction. The recent announcement coincides with the most recent Bitcoin halving, a significant event that occurs approximately every four years, reducing the issuance of new BTC.

Dorsey views the accessibility of the mining process as essential for a fully decentralized and permissionless future, emphasizing the importance of decentralization for network resilience. Block has also previously supported Gridless, a company operating Bitcoin mines powered by renewable energy sources in Africa.

 

April 23,2024

12 Solana Meme Coin Projects Listed As Scams By ZachXBT

Scammers tend to exploit the frenzy around meme coins by capitalizing on increased risk tolerance driven by FOMO. ZachXBT acknowledged this and recently claimed that 12 Solana presale meme coin projects have been completely abandoned in the last month, collectively raising $26.7 million via investors.

 

Meme Coins Continue To Nosedive

In a post on X dated April 21st, ZachXBT singled out the aforementioned projects and cautioned investors against engaging with any future projects by the listed founders. These projects faced a downturn shortly after launch, with some failing to release an actual token.

The LIKE project, led by pseudonymous founder pokeee.eth, raised 52,220 Solana (SOL), equivalent to $7.7 million. However, its value plummeted by over 90% within the first eight hours of trading, now suffering a 99.2% decline compared to its launch price.

Elsewhere, the meme coin MOONKE, initiated by another anonymous figure, RockyXBT, faced a similar fate, witnessing a drop of over 99% in value shortly after its $500 million initial valuation. Finally, another project by founder Jared_eth, raising 4,567 SOL worth approximately $812,000, failed to launch a token.

 

Scammers On The Rise

A study by cybersecurity firm Blockaid found that 50% of presale tokens on the Solana blockchain between November 2023 and February 2024 were malicious, attributing the rise in scammer activity to increased presale token adoption during February and March, driven by the massive popularity of meme coins as well as FOMO in general.

Individuals like Jared_eth and Bluekirbyftm, mentioned by ZachXBT, were identified as scammers. In March, a notable incident involved a Solana presale token when the developer of meme coin Slerf claimed to have mistakenly burned the entire presale allocation due to a fat finger burn error. Market enthusiasm for meme coins has declined in recent weeks, with several Solana-based tokens experiencing slides of over 40%, such as WIF.

 

 

April 23,2024

Drama At The SEC As Two Lawyers Accused Of Cheating In Crypto Case

Two attorneys with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Michael Welsh and Joseph Watkins, stepped down following reprimands and criticism by a federal judge for their gross abuse of authority in a notable cryptocurrency case.

 

SEC In Hot Water

Welsh and Watkins co-founded Digital Licensing Inc., creators of DEBT Box, a cryptocurrency platform. Welsh was the lead attorney in a case against him. Both resigned after an SEC official warned them of termination if they stayed.

The lawsuit against DEBT Box was marred by inaccuracies, false claims, and insufficient evidence. Federal District Court Judge Robert Shelby, overseeing the case, criticized the agency for misconduct in March. The head of SEC enforcement has since apologized for these errors. In July, the SEC accused DEBT Box and its executives of defrauding investors of at least $49 million. 

 

More Than Meets The Eye

The asset freeze was lifted after Shelby found possible materially false and misleading statements by the SEC. He penalized the agency for gross abuse of authority and ordered payment of some of the legal fees.

Shelby criticized the arguments made by Welsh and the evidence presented by Watkins and his team. Watkins was the lead investigator on the case. For instance, Welsh claimed DEBT Box had closed its bank accounts and moved assets overseas, which the court found to be untrue.

An SEC investigator attributed the error to miscommunication, and Welsh apologized to the court. In December, SEC enforcement chief Gurbir Grewal apologized to the court for the conduct of his department. He appointed new lawyers to the case and mandated training for the enforcement staff.

 

 

April 22,2024

Crypto Community Highly Concerned About Section 702 Renewal

The US Senate has given the green light to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), prompting discussions among privacy advocates and the cryptocurrency community. This provision empowers the government to gather data via major tech giants like Google and Meta without needing warrants.

 

Privacy Under Threat

The measure passed with a 60-34 vote and now awaits endorsement by President Joe Biden to prolong surveillance authority for another two years. Unsurprisingly, this move has unsettled the crypto community, which values privacy and decentralization, due to the broad scope of these surveillance capabilities.

Outside of the crypto sphere, several detractors, including Senator Ron Wyden, fear Section 702 could be abused to gather superfluous data on US citizens and violate their right to freedom and privacy. Conversely, some legislators, such as Senator Elizabeth Warren, argue that monitoring the crypto industry is crucial for regulatory oversight.

 

A Turning Point

With the renewal of Section 702, crypto enterprises could very well encounter increased regulatory scrutiny by entities like the SEC, CFTC, and DOJ, ensuring compliance with surveillance and data collection standards.

Despite the risk of misuse, there are instances of collaboration between crypto firms and law enforcement to combat illicit activities. For instance, the CEO of Tether has cooperated with the FBI and the Secret Service in counter-terrorism financing efforts.

As debates around Section 702 persist, the crypto sector finds itself at a pivotal moment. The extension of the law could challenge the core tenets of privacy and decentralization fundamental to cryptocurrency, prompting concerns about government intervention in innovative technologies.

 

April 22,2024

Adidas Remains Committed To NFTs Despite Lack Of Institutional Interest

Adidas has decided to persist in its dedication to the metaverse, debuting various NFTs (non-fungible tokens) as other companies retreat. While interest in NFTs and the metaverse has waned, numerous companies are scaling back their involvement, with prominent departures such as the termination of the Starbucks Odyssey Web3 initiative.

 

Adidas Going All In

Adidas bucks this trend by staying engaged in the metaverse through its recent collaboration with the move-to-earn application STEPN. So far, they have introduced 1,000 NFTs representing Adidas sneakers on the Solana blockchain. These digital assets, essential for engaging in reward-earning activities via STEPN, debuted at 10,000 GMT each, equivalent to approximately $2,400 at current exchange rates.

Evgeniy Medvedev spearheads the Web3 initiatives for Adidas, leveraging his prior experience which he earned during his time at Rarible. Additionally, the brand was featured in Crypto The Game, a Web3 survival game show offering Adidas tracksuits as prizes in a special challenge. Lastly, the contentious conclusion to Crypto The Game saw one participant walk away with a whopping 80 Ether.

 

Interest In NFTs Still Persists

Several sports companies have delved into the realm of NFTs, embracing the digital trend. Among them, Adidas stands out with its release of NFTs representing sneakers on the Solana blockchain, alongside its partnership with tSTEPN. Additionally, other notable players like Nike, UFC, and the NBA have all explored the potential of NFTs, leveraging them for fan engagement, collectibles, and digital memorabilia.

Outside the realm of sports, TRON Founder Justin Sun made headlines with a new music release, collaborating with renowned composer Hans Zimmer. This development occurs amidst legal scrutiny by the SEC, which is pursuing Sun for alleged securities violations. The collaboration, described as a groundbreaking fusion of blockchain and musical creativity, stemmed via an in-depth conversation between Zimmer and Sun early last year.

Elsewhere, PayPal is instituting changes, as it will no longer cover NFTs under its Purchase Protection Program starting May 20th. Moreover, the NFT marketplace Magic Eden is preparing for a new partnership with the blockchain Base on April 25th.