As we slowly approach the end of the ongoing bear market, it is worth discussing the sheer amount of mainstream attention that crypto has been getting from a lot of retail and institutional parties. Adding to its already impressive list of accomplishments, Crypto.com has officially added support for Google Pay wallets. Users can now quickly make in-app purchases using their electronic devices and a credit or debit card through the payment application.

Why is this important?

Customers can take advantage of this new feature as long as they have a credit or debit card linked to Google Pay. As such, the users may utilize the Crypto.com app to buy over 250 different cryptocurrencies available at the exchange after entering their Google Pay details.

Crypto.com had originally launched this new feature in May, owing to its fast and easy way to make payments on websites, apps, and in stores. During a time where everything is becoming increasingly digitized, it makes sense as to why Crypto.com would add this feature so that they can simplify and improve the lives of the companys clientele.

Moreover, using this feature is relatively straightforward and uncomplicated, and the users balance in their crypto wallet would also be adjusted as soon as the transaction is complete. They would additionally be able to view their transaction history at any time via the app.

Crypto.coms growing influence

Formula One, UFC, the French football team PSG (Paris Saint-Germain F.C.), the Philadelphia 76ers, the Montreal Canadiens, and the charity organization Water.org all have sponsorship deals with Crypto.com, with the Water.orgs partnership even involving the addition of actor Matt Damon as a brand ambassador.

Last November, the company famously obtained the naming rights to the legendary Staples Center in Los Angeles, USA, subsequently rechristening it as Crypto.com Arena in a $700 million 20-year deal. Earlier this year, Crypto.com also became a sponsor of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in March 2022.

Needless to say, Crypto.coms influence is growing at an astonishing rate despite the recent January 2022 hack which reportedly included a theft of stolen Ether totalling $15 million. Nevertheless, the company insisted that no funds were lost and that despite all the sponsorships and partnerships, Crypto.coms main goal will always be to protect the customers and provide the best possible experience for them while simultaneously contributing to the mainstream adoption of crypto.

Teslas recent decision to sell 75% of its Bitcoin (BTC) holdings has largely unfazed crypto industry experts, who say its a fairly common strategy for companies to improve cash flow during economic downturns.

The company revealed on Wednesday that it had sold three quarters of its Bitcoin holdings in Q2 2022, thereby adding a whopping $936 million in fiat currency to Teslas balance sheet.

CEO Elon Musk stated that the sale should not be interpreted as a final judgment on Bitcoin and its worth, clarifying that the decision was made due to liquidity concerns in light of Chinas ongoing COVID-19 lockdowns.

As such, Tesla sold a large portion of its Bitcoin holdings because Elon was unsure when the Covid lockdowns in China would be lifted. Due to this, it was critical for him to maximize the companys cash position before also stating that he is open to increasing Teslas Bitcoin holdings in the future if the situation improves.

Lastly, Elon went out of his way to remind everyone that Teslas ultimate goal is not to keep buying and selling crypto, but rather to focus on accelerating the advent of stable and renewable energy.

While most 17 year olds are making TikToks and learning to drive, one London lad has built an entire crypto marketplace from the basement of his parents home. 

Denis Seleznev first discovered cryptocurrency back in 2017 when he was just 12 years old. A year later he purchased his first Bitcoin and began trading on the blockchain. 

Bitcoin just fascinated me on every level, says Seleznev. a silent act of freedom really.

In hopes of mitigating the risk that comes with crypto trading, this young teenager gradually transitioned into yield farming - allowing for more validation and verification of a projects success. Little did he know how valuable his continual learning would be - for both his personal endeavors but also for others exploring the blockchain themselves. 

Seleznev even admits he never saw NFTs gaining so much momentum and jumped on the train just as the hype was starting to die down.

spent a lot of time researching because NFTs were a totally new concept to me.

As Seleznev began seeing the rise in NFTs, he understood their unique ability to sell culture something with intrinsic value that people everywhere could attach to. In his own trading however, Seleznev began seeing the disconnect between all the actions on the NFT marketplace - from those preparing to launch to individuals trying to swap. 

It was this observance that led to Seleznev developing his own crypto project back in November 2021. 

The goal is to unite all NFT actions onto one platform. 

Deedy allows users access to 5 of the most valuable activities including

1. The NFT Marketplace
2. Swapping
3. Lending
4. Renting
5. Launching

With a growing team that now consists of 12 engineers (from Ukraine), a Marketing Manager and a Chief Development Officer, Seleznev is preparing to launch his project just as soon as the market conditions improve. While some think that blockchain is a bust, others - like Seleznev - are excited about the future and eagerly preparing for it. 

Right now we just focusing on the business side of things, which includes getting the artists, building the partnerships and getting on top of all the admin work.

Seleznev approaches even routine business tasks - like  marketing - with the same innovation and curiosity that started his crypto ventures. His speedy foresight led him to discuss the most profitable marketing tactics with expert crypto marketers, Influx Group. His consultation led to the discovery of TikTok and other KOL strategies that have yielded enormous success for fellow crypto entrepreneurs.

The work of Seleznev is particularly unique, as he targets Web2 companies ready to make the leap into the Web3 world. Building this bridge between these two digital spheres is a critical step to further blockchain utilization. 

Any Web2 business can sell their product as an NFT, given it has some deliverable utility to it.

While Seleznev waits to launch until the market stabilizes a little, the teenager continues to strategically grow both his knowledge and company. The majority of his time is spent finishing his secondary studies, but Seleznev says he still able to put about 4 hours a day into his crypto endeavors - which sometimes is dedicated solely to research.

As with many fellow cryptonites, Seleznev is hopeful the decentralized world will move away from the pump-and-dump culture and instead refocus on the reason for its initial creation: to bring freedom and protection of digital assets ownership back to the Web. 

My hope for the future is to see the blockchain beat the scammers, NFTs to provide actual value and for the voice of the people to be returned without censorship. 

Website - https://deedy.digital

Author Credit - Savannah Holmes

Celsius Network has obtained permission to build a new Bitcoin (BTC) mining facility as part of its plans to hopefully rebuild and financially restructure the company. After the recent bankruptcy debacle, Celsius will now embark on a new adventure that will be closely monitored by nearly all retail and institutional parties.

As part of the main strategies outlined in the companys recovery plan, Celsius intends to spend $3.7 million on a new mining facility and an additional $1.5 million on duties and customs in order to import BTC mining rigs, for which it has already received approval.

It is worth mentioning that Celsius already operates such a mining facility within the U.S. In fact, the company presently has more than 43,000 mining rigs, a number which Celsius wants to increase to 112,000 by 2023s second quarter.

Overall, despite the recent controversy surrounding the company, Celsius is confident that it made the right decision to file for chapter 11 bankruptcy as it believes that this will protect customers and their funds in the long run. The restructuring will thus play an instrumental role in this, according to the companys representatives.

Nevertheless, a vast majority of the crypto community still remains hostile towards Celsius and the lawsuits continue to pile up, which also reportedly include a class-action lawsuit and, more alarmingly, one from a former Celsius employee.

Polygon, a Layer-2 scaling platform, has been chosen to participate in Disneys 2022 Accelerator Program, which will begin soon. This historic development indicates that despite the ongoing bear market, institutional interest in crypto remains high. As such, the Ethereum scaling platform is among six projects accepted into the Accelerator Program this year, which primarily focuses on AR, NFTs, and AI.

Whats there to know?

Polygon CEO Ryan Watt announced last week that although other projects were selected, Polygon was in fact the only blockchain chosen for Disneys prestigious Accelerator program. The programs application period began on April 22nd, with a deadline of May 13th, 2022. At the time, Disney stated that the accelerator would seek growth-stage companies with a vision for impacting the future of entertainment and technology.

The program was launched in 2014 and participants can receive mentorship via the Disney Accelerator Team.  Disney has always been at the forefront of the entertainment industry, so being able to work with them speaks volumes about Polygons true value, according to Ryan.

A much-needed win?

As previously mentioned, although we are still very much in a bear market, the interest in the crypto and blockchain space has not wavered at all, quite the opposite. As the inevitable Web3 era draws closer, many top projects will have to show real value if they want to survive long-term, and Polygon working alongside Disney would hence certainly be considered as a big win for the company in this regard.

Moreover, those taking part in the program shall also reportedly receive additional investment capital as well as co-working space at Walt Disneys L.A. campus. The program will eventually conclude with a Demo Day on campus. Since the announcement, MATIC also experienced a considerable increase, with Polygon enthusiasts hoping that this could be the start of a potential recovery for the cryptocurrency.

Flickplay, a Web3 application which enables users to discover NFTs through AR capabilities, and Lockerverse, a Web3 storytelling platform which connects brands and creators, were also chosen this year. Some of the other selected companies included the AR-based startup Red 6, the 3D virtual e-commerce startup Obsess, and the AI-powered digital character creation startup Inworld.

Following much anticipation and a plethora of delays, Ethereum Foundation developers have revealed that the upcoming Merge could happen in about two months from now.

Ethereum core developer Tim Beiko announced via a conference call that the networks transition to PoS (Proof-of-Stake) was now tentatively scheduled for the new date of September 19th, 2022. The new estimate was met with no opposition from other core developers and it is being said that the goal now is to ensure that this timeline is maintained and no more significant delays occur.

However, it is important to note that this new date is not finalized and that the announcement should be seen as a planning timeline instead. Still, after the success of both the Sepolia and Ropsten testnets, it does seem likely that Ethereum will initiate the Merge sooner rather than later.

Celsius has notified state regulators that it will file for bankruptcy in the very near future, citing growing struggles in dealing with seemingly overwhelming liquidity issues as the main reason for doing so. The company will therefore file for chapter 11 bankruptcy after previously freezing withdrawals.

Celsius confirmed earlier today that they had officially began voluntary chapter 11 proceedings. The company also revealed that it only has $167 million in cash, which shall be primarily utilized to support operations.

The voluntary liquidation is hence intended to let the company stabilize its operations and complete a thorough restructuring transaction which shall reportedly maximize value for all stakeholders.

Throughout the proceedings, the court will allow Celsius to pay employees and continue their benefits while the company files for imminent bankruptcy. Celsius shall remain operational, but there is no word regarding when or even if withdrawals will eventually be reinstated.

Holders of cryptocurrency credit cards are rising at an exponential rate. According to various reports, traditional credit cards are gradually being phased out in favor of credit cards based around crypto rewards. Crypto.com's Visa and BlockFi's Visa are among the most prominent examples of this.

Admittedly, it's tough to fathom consumers deliberately choosing a currency other than the traditional U.S dollar. However, BTC, ETH, and LTC appear to be the most popular cryptocurrency reward coins today, which is understandable given that these are among the most valuable.

An increasing number of consumers also claim that they are willing to accept various kinds of crypto rewards in exchange for using their crypto credit cards as the digital currency space continues to grow. NFTs are additionally included in these rewards, as are P2E-based incentives.

Most of the best crypto rewards credit cards also offer digital cash back. The BlockFi Rewards Visa is hence the most popular crypto rewards credit card among Americans, with 40% of the target demographic currently using it. Could this be a sign of the seemingly inevitable shift to the Web3 era? Only time will tell.
 

Despite the emergence of many other digital currencies, Bitcoin continues to reign supreme. It is arguably one of the most accessible options for those new to cryptocurrency. Bitcoins can be traded, bought and sold, but to find them, they, like gold, need to be mined. So before you can think about investing in bitcoin, you need to understand more about the acquisition process lets explore.

The Process

Bitcoins can be found hidden inside blocks of data. A miner, using an algorithm provided by the creators of bitcoin, has to solve equations in order to extricate the bitcoins from the data. The digital process has to be undertaken with software and equipment designed for that specific purpose. There is a finite supply of Bitcoins. There are only twenty-one million of them out there. Around nineteen or so have already been mined, meaning, obviously, there are only around two million more left to mine.

What Happens When They Run Out?

As mentioned above, bitcoins have a finite supply, and they are beginning to near their end. In all honesty, twenty-one million is an arbitrary number, and no one really knows why it was chosen. It could be to protect the coin against inflation and provide it with a more stable value. Once they are all mined, thats it. It is unlikely that bitcoin will waver from this limit, and no such plans to increase the amount have been announced.

As all of the bitcoins are mined, obviously, the supply becomes scarcer, and the coins themselves get rarer. This could drive the price up, increasing the earning potential of investors. This is why more and more cryptocurrency investors are scrambling to invest before they become harder to find and the price gradually begins to increase.

Entering the Market

The cryptocurrency market is incredibly volatile, and this volatility is likely to increase as the number of remaining bitcoins dwindles. This is why most investors are attempting to enter the market now. Once you have entered the market, either by mining the coins yourself or investing in them, there are two routes for you to consider. Firstly, you could choose to sit on them and wait for the maximum price as they become rarer. Or, if you do not have the luxury of time, you could choose to seize the advantage offered by the smaller market fluctuations. If you arent sure how to make the most of your investment, Paxful has a number of resources that can help you to find out how to make money with Bitcoin.

When Will All the Bitcoins be Mined By?

While it might seem like bitcoins are beginning to run out, with most of them having already been mined, the truth is that the rate has slowed. Only ten percent of all bitcoins are left to mine, but most sources estimate that this will take years. The general consensus is that the last bitcoin will be mined by the year 2140.

To Conclude

Since its initial release, bitcoin has remained one of the most popular and accessible forms of cryptocurrency. It is ideal for novices and those who do not have a tech background. That being said, it is still important that you do your research to learn more about the cryptocurrency, the acquisition process and how to make the most out of your investment strategies. By all accounts, there is still a while before all of the bitcoins are mined, which means there are still plenty of chances to get involved.

The United States Office of Government Ethics announced that Executive Branch employees who own cryptocurrency assets would be barred from working on any crypto-related regulations going forward. Naturally, this sparked some heated discussions across numerous channels, all of which examined the pros and cons of this decision as well as the broader debate pertaining to the ethics and economic conflicts of interest in general.

If you hold crypto, you're out of luck

One of the biggest complaints that the cryptocurrency community has had against the new policies made by the Executive Branch of the U.S government is that anyone who owns cryptocurrencies would not be allowed to take part in the writing and decision making of policies pertaining to crypto and blockchain. For example, if there is a regulation which states that all stablecoins (BUSD, USDC, USDT, etc.) are to be backed by the United States Dollar (USD), then anyone who owns a stablecoin that is not backed by the dollar, such as DAI, would not be allowed to work on any policy concerning stablecoin regulation and management.

Elsewhere, others have been saying that this is just the latest attempt by U.S regulators to undermine the success of the crypto industry, and that bringing in people who have little to no hands-on experience regarding DeFi to make regulatory policies about decentralized finance is indicative of the fact that the United States government, in particular regulatory agencies like the SEC, have repeatedly adopted an anti-crypto stance.

Others believe that this could be a good thing as it is important to have individuals making regulatory policies who are not directly involved with crypto as this provides an objective and relatively unbiased perspective free from any conflict of interest, but the counter argument here is that why is this seemingly only applicable for cryptocurrencies and not other industries like housing and real estate.

The U.S to be left behind?

Due to the aforementioned new policies, it should come as no surprise that many U.S-based crypto enthusiasts, businesses and investors have started moving abroad. This is not just limited to those living in the United States either, as Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao recently relocated to Dubai in the UAE amidst growing regulatory concerns in the U.S. This makes sense as the United Arab Emirates continues to steadily become a global hub of sorts for all things relating to crypto and blockchain.

Ultimately, many would agree that the new policies are a massive step backwards in terms of bringing the U.S to the forefront of digital innovation and global dominance. Whereas a growing list of countries around the world are actively making efforts to facilitate crypto investors and businesses, it would nevertheless appear as if the United States could indeed be left behind in the inevitable global shift to the Web 3.0 era.

Solflare, a Solana (SOL)-native wallet, recently announced a new integration with FTX.com and FTX.US in order to make portfolio management for Solana users easier and more accessible.

According to Solflares team, this will simplify transfers between custodial and non-custodial accounts by allowing users to successfully manage FTX funds directly from their respective Solflare web extension and, later, through the mobile wallet. In order to connect the exchange accounts with Solflare, however, users should be aware that FTXs KYC rules would still apply.

Furthermore, because liquidity is sourced from FTX rather than Solana, token swaps on FTX accounts within the Solflare wallet will remain unaffected by Solanas frequent network congestions. Despite this, deposits and withdrawals on the Solana network may still seldom experience relatively slow speeds. Also, the wallet provides support for the deposit, withdrawal and visualization of FTX NFTs.

With this latest integration, Solflares ability to carry out coordinated airdrops along with various other yield incentives for DeFi users can be significantly improved. At the moment, Solana remains in the top ten cryptocurrencies by market capitalization but only barely, and something needs to change sooner rather than later if SOL looks to recover its previous heights.

One of Ethereums public testnets, Sepolia, has officially been merged. This brings Ethereum developers one step closer to a merge on the main blockchain which is expected to occur later on in 2022.

Sepolias Proof-of-Work (PoW) chain, also known as the execution layer, merged with its Proof-of-Stake (PoS) beacon chain in this event, referred to as the consensus layer.

To accomplish this, node operators on both the PoW and PoS sides of the testnet were required to update their respective client software at the same time. The point of this experiment was to see if the validator nodes from both of Sepolias chains could cooperate.

The merge on a public testnet serves as a trial run for the main network. Moreover, this activity will most likely also assist client firms in identifying and resolving software issues prior to the deployment of the mainnet.

The merge will be tested on three public testnets, according to Ethereum developers. Ropsten and Sepolia are two recent examples. Only the Goerli testnet remains to be merged, with numerous reports indicating that this will probably happen in the next few weeks if all goes well from now on.