chainwire

Vancouver, Canada, June 16th, 2025, Chainwire

Company Begins Bitcoin Accumulation And Signs Non-binding Strategic Mou With Japan’s Gfa Co., Ltd. 

Targets Launching Bitcoin Treasuries in Asia’s US$25 Trillion Public Market 

Universal Digital Inc. (the “Company” or “Universal Digital”) (CSE: “LFG”, FSE: 8R20) is pleased to announce the launch of its Bitcoin Treasury Strategy, which will form a core pillar of the Company’s capital allocation framework. As an initial step, the Company has commenced the orderly divestment of its existing altcoin holdings, with the proceeds to be reallocated toward Bitcoin accumulation under a new reserve model.

The goal of this strategy is to enhance long-term net asset value and align the Company with global trends in institutional digital asset adoption. Universal Digital views Bitcoin as a complementary reserve asset and plans to implement the strategy in a transparent and phased manner.

As part of this initiative, the Company plans to collaborate with publicly-listed companies across Asia to implement Bitcoin treasury models, leveraging the region’s growing institutional and retail interest in digital assets and its increasing openness to blockchain-based financial innovation. According to Chainalysis, Eastern Asia accounted for approximately 8.9% of global on-chain cryptocurrency transaction volume between July 2023 and June 2024, with the bulk of activity driven by institutional and professional investors in markets like Japan, South Korea, and Hong Kong.

In furtherance of this regional focus, on June 12, 2025, the Company entered into a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with GFA Co., Ltd. (“GFA”), a Tokyo Stock Exchange-listed diversified financial and technology group (TSE: 8783). The MOU sets out a partnership framework for jointly advancing Bitcoin-based corporate finance models in Japan.

Under the MOU, the companies will jointly explore:

• Introducing Bitcoin reserve models to Japanese listed companies;
• Structuring capital raising tools such as warrants and market-based offerings to fund Bitcoin acquisitions; and
• Enhancing governance, investor relations, and custody frameworks for digital assets.

The MOU also sets the stage for broader collaboration in Japan’s digital economy, including joint investments in public companies, the development of blockchain-based corporate structures, initiatives that connect Bitcoin adoption with cultural IP and Web3-driven consumer ecosystems. The MOU was entered on an arm’s length basis and there are no related party interests between Universal Digital and GFA.

“Our Bitcoin Treasury Strategy marks a deliberate shift in how we manage capital — by holding Bitcoin as a long-term treasury asset, we aim to enhance balance sheet strength and align with the evolving global financial landscape,” said Tim Chan, CEO of the Company. “The framework we’ve established with GFA enables us to explore extending this model to Asia, where digital assets are gaining traction among public companies and institutional investors.”

“Universal Digital’s and its management’s experience with the crypto and Bitcoin treasury combined with our expertise on the Japanese markets makes us a strong team. I look forward to working closely with Universal Digital to introduce bitcoin reserve model to Japanese listed companies.” Stated Gen Matsuda, CEO of GFA Co., Ltd.

The MOU is non-binding and provides a framework for further negotiations and joint structuring discussions.

About Universal Digital Inc.

The Universal Digital Inc. is a Canadian investment company focused on digital assets, businesses, and private and publicly-listed entities that are involved in high-growth industries, with a particular focus on blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and cryptocurrency technologies. The Company aims to provide shareholders with long-term capital growth through a diversified investment approach and to participate in the transformation of global finance through the integration of digital asset strategies.

About GFA CO., LTD.

GFA Co. is a Japanese company primarily involved in financial services, cybersecurity, space production, and gaming. The company operates through four business segments: financial services, cybersecurity, space production, and game business. Its financial services segment includes financial advisory, investment, and loan activities, and real estate investment. Additionally, they engage in real estate rental, buying/selling, and brokerage services, along with real estate secured loans and resale.

References

Chainalysis 2024 Geography of Cryptocurrency Report – Regional Overview: East Asia

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward Looking Information

Certain statements in this release constitute “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws including, without limitation, statements with respect to the Company’s plan to sell its altcoin holdings and the uses of proceeds therefrom, statements with respect to the Company’s future net asset value, balance sheet strength and financial resilience, statements relating to the Company’s plans and anticipated benefits of the MOU, as well as statements relating to the Company’s business strategy, market positioning, investor engagement, regulatory approvals, the availability of capital, anticipated timelines, and general economic, financial, market and political conditions. Such statements can be identified by the use of words such as “may”, “would”, “could”, “will”, “intend”, “expect”, “believe”, “plan”, “anticipate”, “estimate”, “scheduled”, “forecast”, “predict” and other similar terminology, or state that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved. These statements reflect the company’s current expectations regarding future events, performance and results and speak only as of the date of this release.

Forward-looking statements and information contained herein are based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the assumption that the Company will be able to liquidate its altcoin holdings at favourable prices or at all, the Company continuing its anticipated business strategy, including entrance into of the Asian market, and the Company and GFA being able to consummate a binding transaction or series of transactions based on the non-binding MOU, the Company’s business strategy, expectations with respect to market conditions, investor engagement, regulatory approvals, the availability of capital, anticipated timelines, operating costs, and other business and economic considerations. While the Company considers its assumptions to be reasonable as of the date hereof, forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees of future performance and readers should not place undue importance on such statements as actual events and results may differ materially from those described herein. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or information except as may be required by applicable securities laws. Such statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or information, including, without limitation, the risk that the Company is not able to liquidate its altcoin holdings at favourable prices or at all, which would affect the uses of proceeds from such sale, the Company and GFA failing to enter into a binding agreement based on the MOU and not realizing the anticipated benefits set out above, the Company changing its business strategy relating to the Asian market or the Bitcoin Treasury Strategy. Please see the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s most recent annual information form dated June 3, 2025 for the year ended January 31, 2025, as well as the “Financial Instruments and Related Risks” section of the Company’s most recent management discussion & analysis for the year ended January 31, 2025 for a further description of the risks applicable to the Company.

Contact

CEO
Tim Chan
Universal Digital Inc.
[email protected]

Singapore, Singapore, June 12th, 2025, Chainwire

Nearing the token generation event coming up on June 23rd, Polemos has announced a strategic partnership with BUFF focused on accelerating the integration of Web3 technologies within the gaming sector and facilitating broader user adoption. This collaboration unites two industry leaders with a shared vision to bridge the gap between traditional Web2 gaming and the emerging decentralized landscape.

https://youtu.be/zSnDIl8tC8M

The partnership leverages the respective strengths of Polemos, a platform specializing in NFT utility and decentralized gaming ecosystems, and BUFF, a rewards platform focused on enhancing user engagement and rewards within gaming ecosystems. Together, they will collaborate on initiatives designed to educate and onboard mainstream gaming audiences into the Web3 industry while simultaneously offering value and utility to veteran players in the wider ecosystem. It’s also important to highlight that BUFF is home to 18 million registered gamers on its platform. 

On Polemos, players can lend, rent, and trade game assets with ease, with all rewards in one place, no hassle. Plus, their scholarship program gives gamers an extra boost to grow, play, and earn more. BUFF, on the other hand, rewards players for their in-game activity through challenges and achievements. Users earn BUFF points, which can be redeemed for various digital and physical rewards, including gift cards, gaming gear, and more. This strategic alliance aims to deliver enhanced value to users by creating more accessible, engaging, and rewarding pathways into Web3 gaming. Through joint development efforts, knowledge sharing, and collaborative initiatives, Polemos and BUFF intend to reshape user experiences and unlock new revenue opportunities within the evolving gaming market. 

“We believe this partnership will serve as a key catalyst for educating and empowering gamers worldwide,” said Carl Wilgenbus, CEO of Polemos. “Our platform is built to help users truly understand the potential of Web3, offering the tools and support needed to earn and grow within this new paradigm.”

“This partnership represents a meaningful step in our mission to expand access to gaming rewards and bridge the gap between mainstream gaming and emerging technologies,” said Elay De Beer, CEO of BUFF. “Together with Polemos, we aim to simplify and elevate the way players interact with Web3 ecosystems — making them more accessible, rewarding, and trusted.”

Both Polemos and Buff are committed to achieving measurable outcomes and establishing new standards of excellence within the Web3 gaming industry.

Interested parties can participate in the Polemos IDO on Kommunitas, a decentralized launchpad connecting web3 projects with potential investors. It facilitates successful fundraising, which will enable Polemos to make a strong market impact with the launch of its key utility token, $PLMS, on June 23rd. Kommunitas has a portion of the token allocation for the anticipated $PLMS launch. Full details available here: https://kommunitas.net/.

About Polemos 

Polemos is a leading Web3 gaming infrastructure platform, enabling seamless player onboarding, asset management, and engagement across blockchain games. Through strategic partnerships and innovative technologies, we bridge Web2 and Web3 gaming, creating a frictionless experience for players.

The platform focuses on creating awareness by educating mainstream Web2 players about the opportunities and value within Web3 games and blockchain technology. It simplifies access by breaking down blockchain complexities, making crypto transactions and participation in Web3 gaming straightforward and effortless. Additionally, Polemos enhances engagement by building innovative tools and features that enrich gameplay, deepen player interactions, and empower gaming communities. 

About BUFF

BUFF, founded by Elay De Beer, Ophir Gertner, and Ophir Sarapi, operates as a virtual gaming economy platform that rewards gamers simply for playing. It enables gamers to accumulate points in the background as they continue to play uninterrupted, benefiting gamers with a new incentive to spend more time gaming, and opening a new marketing approach for game publishers to interact for longer periods to increase loyalty to their brands.

About Kommunitas

Kommunitas is a decentralized, tier-less crowdfunding platform that has launched over 236 Web3 projects and raised $34.87 million, empowering startups and blockchain projects to grow through a fair, transparent, and community-driven approach. Its tier-less system allows anyone to participate in fundraising opportunities, and with a revenue-sharing model, Kommunitas offers long-term benefits for its community.

Contact

Marketing Department
Polemos
[email protected]

Vienna, Austria, June 12th, 2025, Chainwire

• The Vision (VSN) token, launching on July 16, will power Bitpanda’s onchain infrastructure – connecting wallets, trading, cross-chain liquidity, and tokenised assets.
• The launch is the first puzzle piece of Bitpanda’s ambition to build a user-first, fully compliant Web3 ecosystem – rooted in real utility and designed to make Web3 accessible for everyone.

Vision: One token to connect it all

Kicking off Bitpanda’s Web3 product suite is Vision (VSN), the utility and governance token at the heart of the ecosystem. Launching on July 16, from a merge of Bitpanda’s two existing tokens, BEST and Pantos, it launches with deep, native integration across Bitpanda’s platform and upcoming Web3 products, unlocking real-world value and a clear path to mass adoption.

What users can do with VSN:

• Save on fees: 20% fee discounts on Bitpanda.com and Bitpanda’s DeFi Wallet.
• Staking Rewards: Earn up to 10% APY on staked VSN.
• Governance: Vote on upgrades, reward rates, token emissions and protocol changes.
• Launchpad Access: Early entry into vetted Web3 token launches.
• Loyalty & Airdrops: Participate in exclusive token drops and reward programmes.

Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, Deputy CEO at Bitpanda, commented: “Vision is the engine behind everything we’re building in Web3, like electricity is for many things in modern life. It fuels the ecosystem, connects our products, and rewards users for engaging with the tools we’re building. This includes fee savings and staking, as well as governance and loyalty, which turn into benefits for everyone in the Bitpanda ecosystem and beyond.”

The Bitpanda Web3 ecosystem

While many Web3 projects remain experimental, Bitpanda’s approach is grounded in real utility. Its new ecosystem is built for everyday users and will enable millions of people to enter Web3, designed to enable Web3 to reach the mainstream. With nearly 7 million users, Bitpanda’s aim is to give everyone access in a compliant and secure way, without sacrificing on the user experience.

In addition to Vision (VSN), Bitpanda’s Web3 product suite contains the following components:

Bitpanda DeFi Wallet: The consumer-grade entry point

An intuitive smart wallet providing everything users need to trade, earn, and manage assets onchain across major blockchain networks, all from a single, intuitive app. Designed for both crypto natives and newcomers, the wallet allows users to trade, earn, and manage assets with institutional-grade security. At launch, the wallet will support over 5,000 tokens across Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, BNB Chain, Avalanche, Optimism, Base, and Arbitrum.

Vision Protocol: Frictionless, cross-chain trading

Vision Protocol is the underlying liquidity engine of the ecosystem. It aggregates top decentralised exchanges and bridges like 1inch, Jupiter, and Rango to deliver seamless swaps across chains – fully embedded into the Bitpanda DeFi Wallet.

Vision Chain: Europe’s compliant Layer 2

A dedicated Ethereum Layer 2 network designed for tokenising real-world assets. Vision Chain serves as the compliant backbone for Europe’s onchain finance, bringing securities, commodities, and fiat onchain in one unified layer. 

Bitpanda Launchpad: Onramping innovation

A platform for launching curated, high-quality crypto projects. Bitpanda Launchpad ensures investor protection, project legitimacy, and fast-track access to promising teams and listing on Bitpanda and their partners. For investors, it provides early access to the cutting edge of DeFi innovation, creating a true win-win for builders and users alike.

Eric Demuth, Co-Founder and CEO at Bitpanda, commented: “We are highly committed to build the onchain future in a compliant, secure and simple to use way. Just like Apple did with Smartphones. Therefore we have hired a strong team of Web3 industry experts – and this has just been the start for our ambitious plans.”

About Bitpanda

Bitpanda was founded in Vienna in 2014 and is the leading European crypto platform. With a selection of over 3,200 digital assets, including more than 600 crypto assets and numerous stocks*, ETFs*, precious metals, and commodities, the Austrian fintech unicorn offers one of the most comprehensive ranges of digital assets available in Europe. Already trusted by over 6.5 million users and dozens of institutional partners, Bitpanda holds licences in several countries and has a proven track record of working with local regulators to keep assets safe and secure. This makes Bitpanda one of the safest and most strictly regulated trading platforms in the industry. In addition to its headquarters in Vienna, Bitpanda has offices in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, and Bucharest.

Contact

Director, Corporate Communications
Paul Wolter
Bitpanda
[email protected]

Texas, United States, June 11th, 2025, Chainwire

Bitcoin holders can now trade, borrow, and execute complex DeFi strategies for just $0.01 per transaction, following Threshold Network’s launch of tBTC on Starknet. This trust-minimized protocol transforms Bitcoin into functional DeFi capital while preserving full user custody.

tBTC is now available for direct minting on Starknet via the Threshold UI, allowing users to seamlessly bring native BTC onchain without custodians or intermediaries.

With Bitcoin’s average transaction fee at $1.49 (7-day moving average, June 2025), it’s no match for Starknet’s ultra-low costs, where the same Bitcoin, via tBTC, can be traded, lent, or deployed in complex DeFi strategies for just $0.01 per transaction.

“BTC on Bitcoin Mainnet is like gold bars in a vault: valuable but unusable,” said MacLane Wilkison, Co-Founder of Threshold Labs. “At just $0.01 per transaction on Starknet, Bitcoin becomes more than a store of value — it can now be used for small to large-scale trades, executed hundreds of times a day, and as a source of capital to lend or even borrow against. This is Bitcoin as it was meant to be used.”

The Numbers: Why Bitcoin DeFi Struggles

Current Bitcoin mainnet reality (June 2025 data):

• Average transaction fee: $1.49 (7-day moving average)
• Recent peak during congestion: $91.89 (April 2024)
• Confirmation time: 10-60 minutes

Result: Complex DeFi operations become uneconomical: even at $1.49, a $100 trade costs 1.5% in fees. 

tBTC on Starknet changes the economics:

• Transaction fees: $0.01
• Confirmation: Instant
• Throughput: 857 TPS (achieved in testing)

Result: Bitcoin becomes a working capital, operating at minimal cost.

What’s Coming Next for tBTC x Starknet

With the launch of tBTC on Starknet, Threshold Network is building the foundation for a Bitcoin-Ethereum economy within a scalable, zero-knowledge environment. tBTC is integrating with Starknet’s most prominent protocols to bring trust-minimized Bitcoin liquidity to trading, borrowing, and beyond.

• Live on Launch: DEX Trading on Ekubo – Native Starknet DEXs enable deep, efficient trading of tBTC against select pairs. Users can deploy capital with minimal slippage and explore high-frequency strategies at a much lower cost.
• Coming Soon: tBTC Lending on Vesu – Soon, users can borrow against their tBTC positions without relinquishing custody, via Vesu. This integration mirrors the success of tBTC on Ethereum, where over 25% of the supply is locked in Aave.

What Can Users Do with tBTC on Starknet

• Execute on Select Trading and Borrowing Strategies
• Provide liquidity at minimal rebalancing costs
• Use Bitcoin as collateral without selling
• Manage positions freely on DEXs
• Trade tBTC or explore staking pairs

Enabling New Application Use Cases:

• Streaming Payments: Enables Bitcoin-backed payments to be sent on a per-second basis.
• Automated Strategies: Allows BTC to function within smart contract systems while minimizing gas overheads that could reduce returns.
• Bitcoin-Powered Gaming: Facilitates microtransactions through low-cost, instant Bitcoin-backed transfers, making them viable in gaming environments.

What’s Coming Next

1. Perpetuals & CDPs: Upcoming integrations with perp DEXs and collateralized debt protocols will expand risk-managed leverage options and allow BTC to power more complex DeFi tools.
2. Yield Vaults: Future integrations with automated vaults will simplify liquidity management for users and unlock more opportunities with BTC on DeFi. 
3. Oracles & Liquidity Infrastructure: Collaborations with major liquidity providers and oracle networks will ensure accurate price feeds and optimal capital deployment.

“This fundamentally changes Bitcoin’s role in DeFi,” said Damian Chen, Head of Growth at the Starknet Foundation. “We’re seeing developers revisit ideas killed by high fees. Bitcoin at scale is finally possible on Starknet.”

Security Without Compromise

Unlike other wrapped Bitcoins that require corporate custody, tBTC uses threshold cryptography. Multiple independent nodes secure Bitcoin deposits, ensuring that no single entity controls funds. No KYC is required, and users maintain Bitcoin sovereignty while accessing DeFi.

Starknet’s zero-knowledge proofs provide the scaling. STARK cryptography compresses thousands of transactions into one proof, achieving 857 TPS in testing while maintaining Ethereum’s security guarantees.

How to Access tBTC on Starknet

Access tBTC on Starknet via 2 ways:

• Direct Minting from BTC to tBTC (Starknet): https://dashboard.threshold.network/tBTC/mint
• Bridge tBTC from Ethereum L1 to Starknet: https://starkgate.starknet.io/ethereum/bridge?mode=deposit

With $547 million in TVL, 193 active protocols, and over 11,000 daily users, Starknet has rapidly emerged as a hub for scalable, composable DeFi.

Starknet users can now directly mint tBTC — a fully backed, 1:1 representation of native Bitcoin — through the Threshold UI, providing them with seamless access to Bitcoin’s value without intermediaries and with full self-custody.

Additionally, users can bridge existing tBTC from Ethereum L1 to Starknet via the official StarkGate bridge, offering even more flexibility for Bitcoin holders to participate in Starknet DeFi.

Market Context

Despite a $2.1 trillion market cap, Bitcoin’s presence in DeFi remains minimal, with just $6.3 billion (under 0.3%) locked in decentralized protocols, according to DefiLlama data from June 2025. As transaction costs decline and access barriers are removed, the Bitcoin DeFi market has the potential to grow 10–15x, unlocking new utility beyond passive holding and into active, composable participation across DeFi.

tBTC has operated since 2020 as the leading trust-minimized Bitcoin protocol. Combined with Starknet’s proven 857 TPS capacity, Bitcoin DeFi can finally scale.

About Threshold Network

Threshold Network powers tBTC, the leading decentralized, 1:1 Bitcoin-backed asset for DeFi. Secured by a 51-of-100 threshold signer model, tBTC enables BTC to move across multiple chains—including Ethereum, Solana, Arbitrum, and BOB—without requiring custodians or compromising security. With $450M+ in TVL and $3.6B in bridge volume since 2020, Threshold delivers the most robust trust-minimized Bitcoin infrastructure in DeFi.

About Starknet

Starknet is a permissionless, decentralized zero-knowledge (ZK) rollup that offers high scalability, low fees, and fast finality. Powered by STARK proofs and developed by StarkWare, Starknet is designed for long-term composability, security, and developer flexibility.

Disclaimer: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those discussed. Nothing in this press release should be considered investment advice.

Contact

Marketing
RC Threshold
Threshold Labs
[email protected]

Los Angeles, USA, June 11th, 2025, Chainwire

Allnodes, a provider of non-custodial staking and node hosting services, has introduced a new range of bare-metal servers tailored specifically for Solana validators and infrastructure developers. Designed to meet Solana’s stringent performance requirements, these single-tenant servers offer high throughput, low latency, and enterprise-grade reliability, without requiring users to manage on-premises hardware.

Infrastructure Optimized for Solana Validator Demands

The new hosting solution is engineered to exceed Solana’s baseline validator specifications, ensuring consistent performance even during periods of network congestion.

Each server is powered by AMD’s latest-generation EPYC Turin processors, starting with the 24-core 9275F (up to 4.8 GHz Max Boost) and scaling to the 64-core 9575F (up to 5.0 GHz Max Boost). Standard configurations include 256GB of DDR5 ECC RAM running at 4800 MHz, with available upgrades up to 3072GB at 4000 MHz or 1280GB at 6400 MT/s. This flexibility supports validators leveraging Jito-Solana infrastructure and those requiring enhanced Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) handling.

Storage capabilities feature Gen 5 NVMe SSDs with up to 7.68TB capacity. Solidigm D7-P5310 drives, capable of delivering read speeds of 14,500 MB/s and 3.1 million IOPS, are included to support high I/O demands and rapid ledger access.

Network performance includes dual 25 Gbit/s ports, with upgrade options to dual 100 Gbit/s connections. All servers are hosted in Tier 3.5+ data centers in Germany, providing redundant power systems, advanced cooling, DDoS protection, and 99.99% uptime.

Validator-Centric Features

Allnodes’ offering allows validators to retain full operational control while offloading infrastructure management. Clients are provided with 24/7 access to the Intelligent Platform Management Interface (IPMI) and BIOS for remote hardware management. Customized configurations are provisioned within 24 hours, and 24/7 technical support is available for maintenance and optimization.

The service offers a fixed-cost alternative to self-hosting, combining predictable pricing with enterprise-level performance via the AMD EPYC Turin architecture.

About Allnodes

Allnodes delivers blockchain infrastructure solutions with a focus on non-custodial staking and node hosting. Supporting over 120 networks and tens of thousands of nodes, the platform manages nearly $3 billion in staked assets. Allnodes emphasizes performance, transparency, and reliability, enabling individuals and institutions to participate in decentralized networks.

Contact:

Website: www.allnodes.com/hosting

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @Allnodes

Contact

Support
[email protected]

London, England, June 11th, 2025, Chainwire

TezDev, the annual gathering of the Tezos ecosystem, returns on July 3rd at the iconic Hôtel Martinez in Cannes — just a short seaside walk from the Ethereum Community Conference. After three successful editions, the free, one-day event continues to bring together developers, creators, and blockchain enthusiasts from around the world. This year’s agenda features a packed lineup of sessions on gaming, art, DeFi, and more — along with interviews with key figures from the Tezos ecosystem and special guest appearances. 

This year, TezDev is built around the theme Catalyst — a nod to the momentum building across the Tezos ecosystem. The program brings together dev talks, first-look demos, and a deep dive into Tezos’ artistic side, showing how teams are making it easier to build and create new kinds of user experiences. Guests can expect a check-in on the progress toward Tezos X, with Tezos co-founder Arthur Breitman’s keynote and sessions digging into technical developments. From Etherlink’s growing DeFi ecosystem to an immersive art showcase celebrating the creative community on Tezos, the schedule reflects the diversity of projects taking shape. TezDev 2025 also marks the launch of the Etherlink hackathon, organized in partnership with Encode Club, inviting developers to bring their ideas to life on the next-gen Layer 2.

As a key moment in the Tezos community calendar, TezDev attendance has grown steadily year over year, with 420 attendees in 2024 — up 55% from 2023, which saw 270 attendees, and more than double the 200 attendees in 2022.

TezDev is a day of exchanges and meetings led by the passionate blockchain and Web3 communities. This event is an opportunity to review the latest technological advances and for project leaders, creators, developers, and innovators shaping Tezos to showcase their achievements within the ecosystem. Over the past year, the Tezos ecosystem has seen major developments — including Uranium.io launching to break down barriers to the uranium market the activation of the Rio and Quebec protocol upgrades; Etherlink’s Dyonisus, Calypso, and Bifröst upgrades; the Apple Farm incentive program; a $1M commitment from Quantix Capital to support Tezos gaming; a partnership with renowned Museum of Moving Images; and the entrance of landmark NFT project World Of Women to the ecosystem. 

TezDev 2025 brings together builders, creators, and thought leaders shaping the future of Tezos. This year’s program features keynotes, panels, deep-dive presentations, and immersive sessions highlighting breakthroughs across DeFi, gaming, infrastructure, and digital art. 

Highlights of the 2025 edition include:

• A keynote by Arthur Breitman, co-founder of Tezos, presenting “The State of Tezos X: From Roadmap to Reality.” Arthur will outline the next phase in Tezos’ evolution, with a focus on scalability, user experience, and real-world impact. Following his keynote, Arthur will also participate in a fireside chat with a surprise guest interviewer.
• A panel on RWA tokenization, demystifying the buzz and digging into practical use cases, featuring Ben Elvidge (Head of Commercial Applications), Paul-Adrien Hyppolite (Co-Founder & CEO of Spiko), and Dennis Dinkelmeyer (Founder of Midas).
• Presentation “RISC-V and the Future of Offchain Compute” followed by Q&A by Ole Krüger (Tech Lead at Trilitech)
• A hands-on gaming showcase, including a “Game On! on Etherlink” presentation by Efe Kucuk (Head of Gaming at Trilitech) and a very special surprise guest, followed by a live gaming session.
• A deep dive into “Art on Tezos: Past, Present, Future”, with Aleksandra Artamonovskaja (Head of Art at Trilitech) and Ganbrood (artist Bas Uterijk) highlighting curation, collaboration, and innovation.
• A discussion on “Building a DeFi Ecosystem on Etherlink”, moderated by David Relkin (Head of DeFi at Nomadic Labs), and featuring speakers including Pablo Veyrat (Co-Founder & CEO of Merkl), Dmitry Kovalevskiy (Founder at Hanji), and David Ryan (DeFi Growth Hacker at Trilitech).
• Experience Art on Tezos: Discover artworks by over 30 artists in an immersive, 360° exhibition, featuring 5×5: Artists Curating Artists by Cyberforms and a curation of objkt.one releases.
• The Etherlink Hackathon 2025 session will present the first-ever Etherlink hackathon organized in partnership with Encode Club, as well as other ways for developers to start exploring building on Etherlink.
• Evening afterparty to wrap up the day with the community

TezDev is open to everyone interested in discovering the Tezos ecosystem. To register for this free event, click here: https://lu.ma/tezdev2025. 

About Tezos

Tezos is an open-source and energy-efficient blockchain designed to empower institutions, developers, and businesses and facilitate value transfer in a digital environment. It is designed for the scalable deployment of decentralized applications. As one of the first Proof of Stake blockchains, Tezos is globally supported and valued for its strong governance, long-term upgradability, and smart contract capabilities. For more information about Tezos, visit http://www.tezos.com.

Contact

Head of PR
Eoin McGinley
Trilitech
[email protected]

Study shows that Total Value Locked (TVL) is a poor metric for building crypto portfolios and making investment decisions

SINGAPORE, June 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A new study from the Algorand Foundation’s tokenomics team challenges one of the cryptocurrency sector’s most widely cited metrics: Total Value Locked. The report provides some of the strongest evidence to date that TVL, despite its prominence across dashboards, headlines, and investor materials, has no bearing on a token’s financial performance.

A recent analysis of over 300 cryptocurrencies (excluding bitcoin and stablecoins) from 2023-2024, led by Dr. Matthew Brigida, Associate Professor of Finance at SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Chief Economist at the Algorand Foundation, revealed no evidence that TVL predicts token performance.

The research team constructed weekly portfolios that ranked tokens by TVL, holding the top 25% and shorting the bottom 25%, to test whether high-minus-low TVL portfolios generated alpha. They did not.

“TVL is often used to project credibility or potential upside, but our results show it fails as an investment signal,” said Brigida. “Even after adjusting for known issues like double-counting, TVL-based portfolios didn’t deliver abnormal returns.”

TVL remains common in crypto media headlines, but it can mislead investors and analysts, according to a study. Platforms like Messari, Artemis, and Token Terminal now consider TVL a secondary metric, while Blockworks has introduced REV (Real Economic Value). Community analytics tools like Dune and L2BEAT are either decentralizing TVL interpretation or using metrics like Total Value Secured (TVS). Nansen adds context to TVL through wallet behavior and smart money flows, while Flipside Crypto emphasizes the value of high-quality users over TVL.

As crypto integrates more deeply with global finance, the Algorand Foundation encourages platforms, researchers, investors, and media to adopt metrics that reflect actual usage and economic demand. This research supports Algorand’s role in evolving the crypto market by combining academic rigor with real-time blockchain insights for data-driven innovation in Web3.

Read the full press release here. 

The full whitepaper is available here.

About Algorand Foundation

Algorand’s mission is to power a world where information has integrity and innovative ideas can scale. The Algorand Foundation supports Algorand’s rapidly growing ecosystem by providing a best-in-class developer environment, supporting key infrastructure and setting technical standards, offering comprehensive support to builders and entrepreneurs, and providing the framework for decentralized governance. To learn more, visit algorand.co.

Vilnius, Lithuania, June 10th, 2025, Chainwire

IMBX, a new global cryptocurrency exchange, has officially launched its trading platform, introducing a next-generation solution built on high-performance technology, robust security, and an intuitive user interface. The launch positions IMBX as a strong contender in the global digital asset trading space.

Industry-Leading Security Protecting Assets and Data

At the core of IMBX is a high-performance matching engine, designed to support lightning-fast order execution with low latency-even during periods of high market volatility. The infrastructure ensures smooth, uninterrupted trading for both retail and professional users.

IMBX also employs industry-leading security protocols, including multi-signature cold wallet storage, real-time threat monitoring, and advanced data encryption. The platform is fully compliant with global KYC and AML regulations, delivering both safety and transparency to users worldwide.

Next-Generation UI/UX

IMBX provides a modern, responsive user interface that caters to traders of all levels. From real-time charting and customizable layouts to a clean, mobile-optimized design, every element of the platform is built to streamline the trading experience.

Abundant Derivatives Trading and Copy Trading

Specializing in derivatives trading, IMBX offers advanced trading suites featuring USDT margin perpetual contracts and an intuitive one-click copy trading service. Users can seamlessly navigate cryptocurrency markets with the assurance of trading in USDT margins, shielded from crypto price volatility. The platform integrates tools such as TradingView, offering users access to essential technical indicators and drawing tools. IMBX’s user-friendly copy trading service welcomes both novice investors and expert traders, providing a hassle-free mechanism to amplify investments and followers. Designed for accessibility, IMBX’s copy trading feature enables users to begin with just $100 and a single click. This functionality combines ease of entry with strong earning potential through commissions.

Backed by a Global Team

Behind IMBX is a world-class team of developers, security engineers, and financial experts with deep experience across blockchain and traditional finance. The team’s commitment to building a robust, scalable, and secure platform positions IMBX as a long-term player in the global crypto ecosystem.

About IMBX

IMBX is a global cryptocurrency exchange platform that offers next-generation trading solutions for digital assets. The exchange provides a high-performance environment for spot and derivatives trading, underpinned by strong security practices and an intuitive user experience. IMBX’s mission is to leverage cutting-edge Web3 technology to make financial services more accessible and inclusive, bridging traditional finance with the innovative world of crypto. For more information, users can visit the IMBX official website or follow IMBX on X

Contact

IMBX
[email protected]

Shanghai, China, June 9th, 2025, Chainwire

AixuSpeed a meme-inspired cryptocurrency developed with a focus on real-time transaction capabilities, has reported exceeding US $500,000 in pre-sale commitments within the first 72 hours of its offering. The early traction highlights the level of initial interest in the token, which combines community-driven branding with a payment infrastructure designed to support sub-second settlement times.

“People love the fun of memes but hate waiting ten minutes for a coffee on-chain,” said Sara “AiXuSpeed_” Akram, co-founder of AixuSpeed. “We built AIXU so your transaction travels faster than the joke itself.”

AixuSpeed Key Features

• Blazing Speed — Transactions confirm in under a second, unlocking in-game micro-drops, smart vending, pay-per-view, and everyday retail payments.
• Near-Zero Fees — Optimized gas architecture makes nano-payments economical, from tipping streamers to buying a single news article.
• Ironclad Security — Audited smart contracts and proven cryptography guard every wallet, every block, every time.
• Meme-Fueled Community — Viral challenges, NFT airdrops, and weekly meme contests turn holders into hype machines and reward creativity.

Early Traction & 2025 Roadmap

• $500K Pre-Sale: Oversubscribed in three days, with a billion-token hard cap and liquidity locks already audited.
• DEX Listing (Q3 2025): Tight circulating supply, transparent tokenomics, and community governance from day one.
• Speed Grants: Dedicated fund for builders integrating AIXU into games, social apps, and e-commerce.
• Cross-Chain Bridge (Q4 2025): Seamless transfers to Ethereum L2s and Solana to supercharge reach and liquidity.

Joining the Pre-Sale Today

Users can visit aixuspeed.com to participate in the allocation event. Early participants may be eligible for bonus multipliers and a limited-edition ‘Speedster’ NFT collectible.

About AiXuSpeed

AiXuSpeed is a cryptocurrency project that integrates elements of online culture, livestream dynamics, and meme aesthetics into the blockchain ecosystem. Designed to reflect the high-speed, user-driven nature of digital communities, AiXuSpeed seeks to capture the attention of participants interested in emerging internet trends.

Positioned as a community-oriented initiative, AiXuSpeed encourages participation from a diverse group of online users, ranging from casual observers to active digital creators. The project is currently in its presale phase, offering early access to those interested in engaging with the platform during its initial development stage.

By merging real-time engagement with meme-inspired themes, AiXuSpeed aims to establish a presence within the broader crypto landscape through cultural relevance and social momentum.

[email protected]

X/Twitter: @AiXuSpeed_

Instagram : @AiXuSpeed

Contact

Dev
Samir Molaha
Aixuspeed
[email protected]

Sydney, Australia, June 9th, 2025, Chainwire

With the support of Galaxy Ventures and previous investment from notable industry leaders like Vitalik Buterin, RISE sets out to solve the blockchain adoption challenge with its exponentially faster blockchain technology; offering real-time performance of as low as 5ms latency and a 100k TPS target, while maintaining a decentralization-first roadmap.

RISE, a real-time blockchain scaling Ethereum with record throughput and ultra-low latency, announced a $4 million investment from Galaxy Ventures, bringing total funds raised to date to $8 million. This latest funding round will enable RISE to continue to push the boundaries of blockchain performance and develop the next generation of blockchain applications.

Offering instant transaction speeds is a key pillar of bringing more assets, enterprises, and users onchain, but building a blockchain that provides this has been difficult to date. RISE, a new blockchain built on top of Ethereum, solves this with its breakthrough transaction architecture, powered by Shreds which enable record-breaking latency as low as 5-milliseconds. This is especially significant for advanced DeFi use cases such as orderbook strategies, options, high-frequency trading, and market making. RISE launched its public testnet earlier this month, which has already undergone significant battle testing, reaching over 2 billion transactions, including over 50,000 transactions processed in a single 1-second block. This enables developers to experiment and build onchain apps that operate with a new standard of performance, introduced as “Infinite Speed”: real-time performance, decentralized.

By rethinking blockchain design from first principles, RISE addresses a fundamental tradeoff where low latency and high throughput previously required compromising decentralization. Competing blockchains often rely on centralized approaches, introducing censorship risk and single points of failure. RISE was built from day one to deliver unstoppable performance without sacrificing decentralization, enabling real-time transactions on widely accessible, standard hardware. RISE will also implement performance-compatible based sequencing to leverage Ethereum’s vast network of validators and unlock synchronous composability between Ethereum and RISE.

Key Differentiators of RISE:

• Shreds: Sub-blocktime transaction confirmations enabling as low as 5ms round-trip latency
• Scalable Throughput: Currently benchmarked at over 50,000 TPS, with plans to exceed 100,000 TPS
• Based Sequencing (Coming Soon): Unlocking a true extension of Ethereum and solving liquidity fragmentation for users
• Secured Shreds (Coming Soon): Preconfirmations economically secured by Ethereum Validators, significantly improving the security profile

“Performance is only meaningful if it lasts,” said Sam Battenally, co-founder and CEO of RISE. “RISE was built to stay fast—forever. This investment from Galaxy Ventures underscores the need for infrastructure that doesn’t just scale technically, but scales trustlessly. We’re excited to accelerate toward mainnet and bring the next generation of crypto apps into reality.”

RISE will use the funding to support product and app development in the lead-up to mainnet launch. Builders can explore the testnet now at portal.risechain.com.

“RISE is the first project we’ve seen that addresses the scalability trilemma without material security tradeoffs,” said Neil Bhuta, Investor at Galaxy Ventures. “It brings a level of speed, scalability, and decentralization that is essential to supporting a new generation of high-performance applications. We’re proud to back a talented team that is pushing the boundaries of blockchain technology.”

About RISE

RISE is a next-generation Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain redefining performance with “Infinite Speed”—delivering instant transaction confirmation at unprecedented scale, while upholding Ethereum’s core principle of decentralization. Its architecture enables as low as 5ms latency and will support over 100,000 TPS, unlocking a radically improved experience for both developers and users. Seed investors include Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and AAVE founder Stani Kulechov. For more information, users can visit https://risechain.com/.

Contact

Co-Founder and CEO
Sam Battenally
RISE Labs
[email protected]