Lugano, Switzerland, witnessed a historic moment for the blockchain community as the Tether-backed initiative “Plan B” unveiled a life-sized statue of Satoshi Nakamoto, the enigmatic creator of Bitcoin. The unveiling took place during the Third Annual Plan B Forum, an event that gathered blockchain industry leaders, government officials, and Bitcoin enthusiasts at Lugano’s Villa Ciani. The statue, crafted by artist Valentina Picozzi, is intended to honor the vision and legacy of Nakamoto, symbolizing the profound impact Bitcoin has had on the global financial landscape.
Picozzi’s sculpture encapsulates both the mystery surrounding Nakamoto’s identity and the lasting influence of Bitcoin. Plan B, a collaboration between Tether and the City of Lugano, aims to promote the adoption of Bitcoin and blockchain technology within the region. The statue serves as a permanent tribute to Nakamoto’s pivotal role in shaping the future of decentralized finance.
GnosisDAO Approves $40M Venture Fund for Early-Stage Blockchain Projects
GnosisDAO, the community behind the Gnosis Chain, has greenlit a $40 million venture fund to support early-stage projects within the blockchain space. The fund, known as GnosisVC Ecosystem Venture Fund, will focus on decentralized infrastructure, real-world assets (RWAs), and financial payment systems. GnosisDAO will contribute $20 million, with the remaining funds coming from external investors. The initiative aligns with Gnosis 3.0, a strategy aimed at connecting blockchain technology with practical, scalable applications for mainstream use.
Flare Introduces Blockchain Machine Images for Fast Node Deployment
Flare, a layer-1 blockchain known for its focus on data, has launched a service called Blockchain Machine Images (BMIs), in partnership with Google Cloud Marketplace. BMIs significantly reduce the time required to deploy blockchain nodes, cutting the process from hours to mere minutes. The service streamlines node deployment for over 20 networks, including Flare’s own ecosystems. Businesses and developers can now manage blockchain nodes more efficiently, shifting their focus to core innovations rather than maintenance tasks.
Arbitrum Launches ‘Fast Withdrawals,’ Cutting Finality Time to 15 Minutes
Offchain Labs, the developer behind Arbitrum, has introduced a new feature called “Fast Withdrawals” for its Ethereum layer-2 network. The update reduces the time it takes to withdraw funds from up to seven days to just 15 minutes. This feature enhances the user experience by mimicking traditional banking withdrawals, making blockchain transactions more accessible. The improvement is set to be implemented on Orbit chains, such as Apechain and Cheese, with multiple services supporting the new feature.
SenseiNode Achieves SOC 2 Type II Compliance for Staking as a Service
SenseiNode, a Latin American provider of staking services, has achieved SOC 2 Type II compliance, confirming its commitment to maintaining robust security standards. The certification validates key operational areas like access control and system resilience. CEO Pablo Larguia emphasized the company’s dedication to protecting sensitive data as part of its institutional-grade staking solutions.
Hana Network Raises $4M to Develop Hypercasual Finance Platform
Hana Network, a startup focused on integrating social network effects into finance, has raised $4 million in a builder round backed by SushiSwap, Alliance, and Orange DAO. The funds will support the development of Hypercasual Finance, a platform designed to improve user engagement in decentralized finance (DeFi) through simplified and trustless on/off-ramp services. The platform is set to launch in multiple phases, with early successes already achieved through its initial card game, Hanafuda.
These developments highlight the continued momentum of blockchain and cryptocurrency innovations, driving forward decentralized technologies and their real-world applications.
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