The non-fungible token market has surged again today, following the footprints of the broader crypto bear market, which is also skyrocketing. In a remarkable turn of events, the NFT market, spearheaded by Ethereum NFTs, has experienced a dramatic resurgence, with daily trading sales volume climbing past $50 million for the second consecutive day. This NFT surge signals renewed investor confidence and growing interest in NFT items.

NFTs Record $55M In Daily Sales Volume

Data compiled by cryptoslam.io, an on-chain crypto market data aggregator and a multi-chain non-fungible token explorer, indicates that the non-fungible token market has surged again in daily trading sales volume. In the past 24 hours, the non-fungible token market has amassed a trading sales volume of $55 million, up 3.29% from the past days. The no of traders acquiring NFTs have surged by 18%.

The NFT market climbed past $50 million in sales volume after many blue-ship non-fungible token collections exploded in floor price value and trading sales volume. On December 16, the non-fungible token market recorded a trading sales volume of $52 million, the highest trading sales volume since April 2024. The NFT market saw more than 31,000 collectors buying NFTs.

Ethereum, the blockchain network powering Ether crypto and renowned in the NFT market for powering the majority of blue-chip non-fungible token collections, is today’s NFT market leader. In the past 24 hours, the Ethereum-based non-fungible token collections have amassed a trading sales volume of $42 million, taking over 70% of the total market sales. During this time, the Ethereum NFT trading sales volume has further increased by 6.31% from the past month.

Top NFT Gainer, Today December 17, 2024

Pudgy Penguins, a non-fungible token created by the toy brand Pudgy Penguins featuring a fixed supply of 8,888 NFTs hosted on the Ethereum blockchain network, is the top gainer in the NFT market. In the past 24 hours, the Pudgy Penguins non-fungible token collection has raised a sales volume of $15 million. During this period, the Pudgy Penguins NFT sales volume has increased by 96% from the past month.

CryptoPunks, a non-fungible token featuring a fixed supply of 10,000 pixilated Ethereum NFTs previously from the digital asset firm Larva Labs but now managed by the Bored Ape creator Yuga Labs, is another top gainer today. In the past 24 hours, the CryptoPunks NFT collection has amassed a trading sales volume of $3 million. During this time, the CryptoPunks NFT sales have surged by 582% from the past day.

Related NFT News:

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Telegram’s gaming ecosystem is thriving, with tap-to-earn and clicker games leveraging the platform’s established base of over 950 million users. According to the Q3 2024 Telegram Games Report, top games like Hamster Kombat and Catizan pulled in hundreds of thousands of active users within weeks, underscoring the appeal of the “mini-app” approach originally pioneered by WeChat.

Yet, the rise and fall of clunky blockchain-based games like Axie Infinity that struggled with user retention are a reminder that Web3 games haven’t always been a roaring success. If the segment is to reach its full potential as a catalyst for blockchain adoption, it could learn a thing or two from Telegram’s successful approach. I predict that Telegram’s mini app model will be the biggest driver of Web3 gaming’s growth in 2025.

How the Telegram gaming ecosystem attracts users

Web3 gaming’s market value surpassed $3 billion in 2023 and could reach as much as $90 billion by 2030. With over 950 million users, Telegram’s clicker games entice players from all backgrounds with basic rules and fun gameplay that enable them to earn in-game currency and other items, and airdropped tokens for new games. Unlike the traditionally high cost of user acquisition for exchanges and other companies—estimated by Notcoin founder Sasha Plotvinov at upward of $10 to $15—Telegram onboards players for less than $1 per user.

This cost-effective approach has enabled small development teams to amass millions of users in weeks, with over three million active wallets recorded across just nine games in September 2024 alone, a pace rarely seen in the traditional gaming industry. Telegram’s vast, crypto-friendly audience and ease of developing quick, feedback-driven HTML5 mini-games are the key drivers behind this remarkable surge.

By allowing players to earn rewards, own tokenized assets and trade valuable in-game items like skins and weapons, the platform introduces players to the world of blockchain in an accessible and engaging manner. Users can start playing immediately without downloading any additional apps or tooling as the games are directly integrated into the platform, reducing the usual points of friction onboarding non-crypto-native users to Web3 games. Integrating popular gaming IPs such as Delabs’ Ragnarok further enhances the appeal of Telegram’s Web3 gaming ecosystem, bringing beloved, high-traction games to the platform.

The ongoing challenge of user retention

Telegram’s Web3 gaming ecosystem is impressive, with clicker games earning the platform an additional 50 million users this year. However, user retention remains an ongoing challenge. While clicker games are capable of onboarding a large number of users quickly, the attention of those users often wanes due to limited diversity, simple game mechanics that lack the depth and complexity of traditional games, and market saturation.

For the Telegram gaming ecosystem to flourish, it must move beyond tap games and airdrops to something more engaging and sustainable in the long run, making games complicated and diverse enough to maintain the interest in repetitive games with limited functionality. To avoid users dropping off in droves after the initial excitement fades, Telegram games must employ user retention strategies such as the below that encourage engagement and foster a greater sense of purpose with the game.

1. Setting up daily challenges and streaks

Over 40% of web3 gamers spend over 10 hours a week playing Web3 games, highlighting the appetite for blockchain-based games that provide rewards and incentives. Players who engage with daily challenges have higher retention rates than those limited to one-time quests. Daily engagement promotes habit formation and keeps players returning, building a routine that allows games to build deeper player relationships.

Providing regular challenges maintains user interest through small but consistent rewards that help to convert casual users into long-term participants. Hamster Kombat’s engaging tactics have seen its MAUs grow to 110 million, while TG Tap Miner enables players to increase their crypto holdings.

2. Utilizing personalization and segmentation

Continuous interaction benefits significantly from personalized experiences. For example, segmenting players into categories such as “whales,” “dolphins” and “fish,” allows games to tailor content and rewards according to engagement level, making gameplay more satisfying and individualized.

Web3 players are already accustomed to ownership of digital assets and NFTs. Targeted interaction, such as TON Racing League’s high-octane game that enables players to own, upgrade and trade unique racing vehicles as NFTs, can deepen players’ connection, offering them content and rewards that resonate more deeply than standard quests.

3. Building community-driven economies

Web3 enables community-driven economies where players can buy, trade or sell in-game items and assets freely. These interactions create a feedback loop of engagement unique to the blockchain space, where player involvement is essential to the game’s economy and community. Games that leverage community trading and real-time, player-driven content updates encourage organic interactions that enhance player loyalty and satisfaction.

4. Merging with more traditional gaming models

29 out of 40 of the world’s largest video game companies are investing in blockchain gaming, including Microsoft, Tencent, Sony, and Nintendo. With the next crypto bull market upon us, these numbers will likely continue to rise in 2025 and beyond. The future of Web3 gaming will inevitably merge with more traditional models, combining richer user experiences with more sophisticated play, and drawing on the success of Telegram’s mini-app model.

Bitcoin hit $106K yesterday, and the crypto world stayed oddly quiet.

No special hashtags trending.

All those endless debates about when Bitcoin would finally break six figures? They’re history now. But instead of chaos and excitement, we’re seeing something unexpected – calm.

The charts are green, portfolios are up, but the usual hype? MIA

Traders who used to jump at every price movement are just… watching. Some haven’t even updated their price predictions yet.

Is this what a mature market looks like? Or is everyone just processing the fact that their years-old predictions finally came true?

Let’s make sense of it all! Here is a quick rundown of the top headlines from the past 24 hours:

• Ripple launches RLUSD stablecoin with NY approval, targeting USDT and USDC’s dominance in the remittance market – But who is backing this project? 🏦

• MicroStrategy adds 15,350 BTC ($1.5B) right before joining Nasdaq 100 Index – But didn’t they just buy thousands of Bitcoins a few weeks ago? 🤔

• BlackRock backs Ethena’s new USDtb stablecoin, sister token to their $6B USDe – But who else is backing this project? 💰

• Hyperliquid DEX hits $1B in USDC deposits after HYPE token launch without VC backing – But why are users so bullish on HYPE? 📈

• FTX to start repaying users from January 2025, offering 118% of claim value – But why 118%? 💸

Let’s dive in!

Ripple just made a power move in the stablecoin game. After getting the green light from New York regulators, they’re launching RLUSD – a dollar-backed stablecoin that’s going straight for USDT and USDC’s market share.

The interesting part? Unlike other stablecoins primarily used for trading, RLUSD is built specifically for payments and remittances. Think of faster cross-border transfers and cheaper international payments.

But why is XRP going up? Read the full story!

MicroStrategy just added another 15,350 Bitcoin to their treasury, paying around $1.5 billion. Their total stash? 439,000 BTC.

This purchase comes right before MicroStrategy joins the Nasdaq 100 Index – a move that could trigger at least $2.1 billion in institutional buying as ETFs adjust their portfolios.

But didn’t they just buy thousands of Bitcoins a few weeks ago? Read the full story!

Ethena just dropped something interesting in the stablecoin space – USDtb, a new dollar-pegged token with a twist.

Over 90% of its backing comes from BlackRock’s massive BUIDL fund.

Story Continues

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The highly anticipated PENGU token from the Pudgy Penguins NFT project officially launches today, marking a major milestone for the project and its expanding ecosystem.

The token’s launch is set to take place at 8:00 AM AST, making it an exciting moment for NFT and cryptocurrency enthusiasts alike.

The PENGU token will be available for claiming by holders of eligible Pudgy Penguins NFTs, including Pudgy Penguins, Lil Pudgys, and Pudgy Rods.

This is the first step in a broader initiative to integrate the Pudgy Penguins project into the wider Solana blockchain ecosystem.

With a total supply of 88.88 billion PENGU tokens, the launch is expected to greatly enhance the utility and value of Pudgy Penguins NFTs and engage new participants in the growing Web3 space.

Key Features of the PENGU Token Launch:

• Launch Time: The token will officially launch on December 17, 2024, at 8:00 AM AST.
• Token Supply: The PENGU token has a total supply of 88.88 billion tokens, with a significant portion allocated to the Pudgy Penguins community and other NFT communities.
• Claiming Process: NFT holders can claim their tokens through a Solana wallet, with a minimum balance of $10 SOL required to cover transaction fees. The claiming window will remain open for 88 days, after which any unclaimed tokens will be locked and destroyed permanently.

Token Allocations:

• 25.9% to Pudgy Penguins community – including holders of Pudgy Penguins, Lil Pudgys, and Pudgy Rods NFTs.
• 24.12% to other NFT communities – such as Azuki, Bored Ape Yacht Club, and Doodles.
• 17.8% to the project team – vested with a one-year cliff and a three-year vesting period.
• 12.35% for liquidity pools and 11.48% to Igloo Inc., the parent company.
• 4% allocated to public good initiatives and 0.35% for FTT holders.

Why the Launch is Significant:

The launch of the PENGU token is a strategic move that signals the growing importance of the Pudgy Penguins brand within the rapidly evolving NFT and cryptocurrency markets.

The Pudgy Penguins project, which initially gained popularity as a series of fun, cute NFTs, has seen massive growth and attention, with plans for further expansion into various blockchain ecosystems, including Solana.

Pudgy Penguins’ decision to launch the PENGU token on Solana—known for its speed and low transaction fees—marks a significant step in the brand’s evolution.

The token will provide holders with more utility and value within the Pudgy Penguins ecosystem, increasing engagement with NFT holders while providing access to new features and opportunities.

Moreover, it paves the way for greater collaboration with other NFT communities, such as Azuki and Bored Ape Yacht Club, broadening its reach and reinforcing its position in the NFT space.

Trading the PENGU Token:

In addition to the claim process, PENGU will be listed for spot trading on major exchanges, including Binance.

The token can be traded against various pairs such as USD, BNB, FDUSD, and TRY, making it accessible to a global audience. This marks an important step in establishing PENGU as a valuable token within the broader crypto market.

For those involved in the Pudgy Penguins community, this launch offers a rare opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a project that continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible with NFTs and blockchain technology.

Conclusion:

The PENGU token launch is more than just a technical milestone; it represents the continued growth and transformation of the Pudgy Penguins NFT project into a broader Web3 ecosystem.

With its innovative use of the Solana blockchain and strong community involvement, the PENGU token is set to play a crucial role in the future of NFTs and decentralized economies.

As the claiming period opens, NFT holders and cryptocurrency enthusiasts are eager to see how this launch will shape the future of Pudgy Penguins and the NFT space as a whole.

The launch of PENGU is a pivotal moment not only for the Pudgy Penguins project but for the NFT community at large, as it ushers in new possibilities for the integration of digital assets and blockchain technology in the coming years.

Also Read

XRP’s Momentum in December 2024: An In-Depth Analysis

MicroStrategy set for Nasdaq 100 debut, marking a new era for the bitcoin-backed company

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Professionals from traditional gaming backgrounds now outnumber blockchain and cryptocurrency specialists at Web3 games companies, according to the Blockchain Game Alliance (BGA).

The BGA’s 2024 State of the Industry report revealed that 52.5% of respondents have expertise in gaming, the most since the survey began in 2021. Blockchain and cryptocurrency specialists now make up just 10.8% of the industry, down from 21.7% last year.

“For an industry that has faced great scrutiny regarding the importance of building fun-first and less financialized games, it is significant to see an increased prevalence of professionals coming from a background in gaming as opposed to blockchain or cryptocurrency,” the report noted.

The report also highlighted that digital asset ownership remains the most valued feature of blockchain gaming, with 71% of the 623 respondents identifying it as the top benefit. This trend has persisted since the BGA’s inaugural survey in 2021. Other benefits, such as new player reward models and revenue opportunities, were also noted, emphasizing the potential of blockchain to reshape gaming.

Despite progress, challenges remain. Poor user experience and onboarding issues were identified as the industry’s biggest hurdles by 54% of respondents, down from 80% in 2023, reflecting efforts to simplify blockchain gaming and make it more accessible.

“Innovations in design and functionality have reduced barriers and these advancements are helping to ensure that the Web3 gaming ecosystem is more intuitive, inclusive, and welcoming to a broader audience,” said Sebastien Borget, president of the BGA and co-founder and COO of The Sandbox.

Two-thirds of respondents also cited accusations of blockchain games being scams as a persistent issue. Some 30% of respondents also said they had encountered criticism that Web3 gaming is full of bots.

Here is a 2-minute breakdown of everything important that happened in crypto today.

Bitcoin hit $106K yesterday, and the crypto world stayed oddly quiet.

No special hashtags trending.

All those endless debates about when Bitcoin would finally break six figures? They’re history now. But instead of chaos and excitement, we’re seeing something unexpected – calm.

The charts are green, portfolios are up, but the usual hype? MIA

Traders who used to jump at every price movement are just… watching. Some haven’t even updated their price predictions yet.

Is this what a mature market looks like? Or is everyone just processing the fact that their years-old predictions finally came true?

Let’s make sense of it all! Here is a quick rundown of the top headlines from the past 24 hours:

• Ripple launches RLUSD stablecoin with NY approval, targeting USDT and USDC’s dominance in the remittance market – But who is backing this project? 🏦
• MicroStrategy adds 15,350 BTC ($1.5B) right before joining Nasdaq 100 Index – But didn’t they just buy thousands of Bitcoins a few weeks ago? 🤔
• BlackRock backs Ethena’s new USDtb stablecoin, sister token to their $6B USDe – But who else is backing this project? 💰
• Hyperliquid DEX hits $1B in USDC deposits after HYPE token launch without VC backing – But why are users so bullish on HYPE? 📈
• FTX to start repaying users from January 2025, offering 118% of claim value – But why 118%? 💸

Let’s dive in!

Ripple just made a power move in the stablecoin game. After getting the green light from New York regulators, they’re launching RLUSD – a dollar-backed stablecoin that’s going straight for USDT and USDC’s market share.

The interesting part? Unlike other stablecoins primarily used for trading, RLUSD is built specifically for payments and remittances. Think of faster cross-border transfers and cheaper international payments.

But why is XRP going up? Read the full story!

MicroStrategy just added another 15,350 Bitcoin to their treasury, paying around $1.5 billion. Their total stash? 439,000 BTC.

This purchase comes right before MicroStrategy joins the Nasdaq 100 Index – a move that could trigger at least $2.1 billion in institutional buying as ETFs adjust their portfolios.

But didn’t they just buy thousands of Bitcoins a few weeks ago? Read the full story!

Ethena just dropped something interesting in the stablecoin space – USDtb, a new dollar-pegged token with a twist.

Over 90% of its backing comes from BlackRock’s massive BUIDL fund.

The interesting part isn’t just the BlackRock connection. USDtb is designed to work alongside Ethena’s existing USDe, which has already attracted $6 billion in user funds. But while USDe plays with derivatives to keep its peg, USDtb takes a more traditional approach, backing each token with actual reserve assets.

But who else is backing this project? Read the full story!

Something unusual is happening at Hyperliquid.

The new decentralized exchange attracted over $1 billion in USDC deposits since launching its HYPE token last month – without a single venture capital firm in sight.

That’s right – no private investors, no exchange allocations. Every HYPE token went straight to the users. This old-school approach to token distribution seems to be working. Their total locked value shot up from $196 million to $3.2 billion in just 30 days.

But why are users so bullish on HYPE? Read the full story!

The long wait for FTX customers is finally ending. Starting January 3, 2025, the fallen crypto exchange will begin returning funds to its users – and they’re paying back more than expected.

If you lost $50,000 or less on FTX, you’re in the first group getting paid. That covers over 90% of all FTX victims. The interesting part? Most creditors will receive at least 118% of their claim value, calculated from November 2022 prices.

Kraken and BitGo will handle the distributions, with a third partner still to be announced. Both bring solid experience – Kraken helped return Mt. Gox funds, while BitGo secures billions in institutional crypto.

But why 118%? Read the full story!

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Binance, the largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, is set to list Pudgy Penguins’ native token $PENGU today, December 17, 2024. The Pudgy Penguins NFT team announced plans to launch their native token “PENGU’ earlier last week. In this article, we shall exclusively explore all that you need to know starting from $PENGU’s official launching time, airdrop, and tokenomics.

Tomorrow. $PENGU. pic.twitter.com/80LHuf9vZj

— Pudgy Penguins (@pudgypenguins) December 16, 2024

What Is Pudgy Penguins’ $PENGU?

By description, $PENGU is the official token of the Pudgy Penguins, the globally acknowledged non-fungible token collection, which features a limited edition of 8,888 unique cartoons of cute penguins. The Pudgy Penguins NFT collection was launched in July 2021 exclusively on the Ethereum blockchain and has grown into one of the biggest NFT projects in the NFT market.

The Pudgy Penguins team announced their native token on December 06, 2024. In a blog post on X (formerly Twitter), the Pudgy Penguins stated that the native token would offer millions of its fans the chance to align with the brand’s vision. The introduction of the PENGU token is part of Pudgy Penguins’ broader strategy to grow its ecosystem. PENGU is set to launch today Dec 17, at 14:00 UTC on the Solana blockchain network.

Though the $PENGU token will first launch on the Solana blockchain network, it will eventually expand to Ethereum and Abstract, the consumer-focused Ethereum layer-2 scaling network being built by Igloo Inc. Unveiled in June 2024, Igloo is the parent company for the Pudgy Penguins. By launching PENGU on the Solana blockchain network, the Pudgy Penguins NFT team aims to reach an entirely new audience.

$PENGU Tokenomics

Based on the Pudgy Penguins tokenomics table, the $PENGU token will feature a limited supply of 88 billion. The Pudgy Penguin team has allocated 25.9% of the Pengu tokens for the Pudgy Penguins community, which is likely to include Pudgy Penguins and Lil Pudgy holders, and potentially holders of other pudgy digital assets like Pengu Pins (commemoration soulbound tokens) and Pudgy Rods.

PENGU will have a total supply of 88,888,888,888 and will launch on Solana.

Check out our tokenomics and distribution below: pic.twitter.com/I8WFBBa3mW

— Pudgy Penguins (@pudgypenguins) December 6, 2024

The Pudgy Penguins team has allocated It has also allocated 24.12% of the total supply to other communities to expand the size of the Pudgy Penguins community, bringing an estimated five million new huddle members on board. It has also reserved 12.35% of the total supply to create liquidity pairs on decentralized exchanges and grow a thriving market for PENGU after launch.

Furthermore, the Pudgy Penguins team has also reserved 17.8% of the total supply to the project team and subject, at a 1-year cliff and 3 years vesting. It has also reserved 11.48% of the total supply for the company, which will be used for development and marketing ventures. Lastly, the team has reserved 0.35% to the FTX exchange token holders and 4% of the token supply to the public good, in line with the Pudgy Penguins’ motto of “Spreading good vibes across the meta.”

Related NFT News:

Newest Meme Coin ICO – Wall Street Pepe

• Audited By Coinsult
• Early Access Presale Round
• Private Trading Alpha For $WEPE Army
• Staking Pool – High Dynamic APY

Web3 has long struggled with mainstream adoption. We have yet to achieve the true cultural relevance that other cutting-edge technologies enjoy. Our most widely used product as an industry is cryptocurrency itself, but even our biggest advocates now realize that coins alone will not be enough to provide the consumer breakthrough we have been building towards for over a decade.

NFTs, Web3 gaming, social apps, and various forms of decentralized music, art, film, and TV have not broken beyond a crypto-native audience, and many of these projects have been unable to attain even that level of traction. Challenges include complex user experiences, speculative economic models and technical limitations that alienate mainstream consumers. Throughout 2024, the sector grappled with persistent issues including liquidity fragmentation, user experience friction and a reputation for prioritizing financial speculation over consumer experiences, all of which did not resonate in a softer crypto market.

However, in 2025’s growth cycle, we’ll see mass mainstream adoption of Web3 driven by consumer apps building in highly scalable environments that have figured out distribution to wider user bases. Key catalysts include solutions to the liquidity fragmentation crisis, regulatory clarity under a crypto-friendly administration, advanced blockchain infrastructure and the integration of sophisticated AI technologies. Web3 gaming in particular is positioned to transition from a niche experiment to an innovative force in the gaming ecosystem, offering unprecedented player ownership and economic opportunities that will bring the gaming industry out of recession, and new experiences to gamers. Here’s what to expect from crypto consumer breakthroughs in 2025:

1. AI in gaming and other interactive environments

While there is a great deal of chatter around AI leveraging crypto rails for payments, the most concrete and popular uses have centered around gaming. The general public was not made aware of this development because much of the AI was being used as part of the development process for art in the games, or to generate the game itself. Gaming markets are like any other entertainment content — you hear about the player experience, but very rarely the technology that goes into it.

For web3 games specifically, AI will open a lot of doors for game developers in the industry, particularly around the use of AI agents onchain for non-player characters (NPCs). The ability of small developer studios to harness this tech in a meaningful way has accelerated significantly. A critical mass of Saga games have already introduced these agents, and we would not be surprised if almost all our games have AI agents by next year. Many of these AI agents have taken it a step further and created their own L1s at will on Saga, leading to the phenomenon of swarm sentience and fully autonomous interactive worlds on a decentralized network.

2. Gaming maturity and established titles in Web3

2025 is the transition point for established gaming studios entering Web3. These organizations are building with blockchain as core infrastructure, enabling player ownership and decentralized economies. The experimentation phase is over. Now comes the era of quality. Gaming will drive the next wave of mass adoption because it naturally demands the decentralized infrastructure that blockchain can deliver. With the industry in recession over the last 1.5 years, gaming needed answers to its problems of lack of original content and prohibitive user acquisition costs. A crypto-native environment encourages both creative experimentation and extended user acquisition channels for more effective community building. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to say Web3 gaming will end up saving gaming.

3. Meme and degen asset creation

Memes and degen assets are the cultural backbone of Web3. They manifest as game drops, community projects, and viral moments. This is how crypto culture propagates—through creativity at the edges. While traditional finance struggles to understand this phenomenon, these assets drive community engagement and create the authentic moments that define Web3. It’s no surprise that when an AI-agent stood up its first L1 on Saga for a social app, its first action was to launch a memecoin.

4. Sophisticated in-game marketplaces

The next generation of in-game marketplaces will operate as sovereign economies. Players become the market makers, leveraging DeFi infrastructure to drive value. This puts real economic power in the hands of gaming communities. The integration of DeFi principles into gaming creates entirely new mechanisms for player engagement and retention that traditional gaming studios cannot match.

5. Advancements in liquidity solutions

The solution to fragmentation lies in shared liquidity infrastructure. Connected layers between decentralized applications create fluid movement of assets. This enables true composability across gaming, marketplaces and DeFi. The projects that solve this will unlock the next phase of Web3 growth by removing the friction that currently plagues cross-chain interactions.

The truly potent combination is a Web3 asset that has social utility. Particularly among GenZ and Gen Alpha, this sort of combined economic and social activity is not just normal but an incredibly popular form of entertainment. The attribution of value to an asset purely because of community consensus was the origin of web3, and the same force of SocialFi on open liquidity rails will drive the industry into mass adoption.

6. Catalysts from the post-election environment

Trump’s return reshapes crypto’s regulatory landscape. New SEC leadership will shift policy direction. These changes will shape Web3 gaming adoption through a more crypto-friendly regulatory landscape, characterized by reduced bureaucratic constraints and a business-oriented approach to digital assets. This environment might include easing SEC enforcement, creating more lenient digital asset classifications and potentially establishing regulatory sandboxes or tax incentives for blockchain gaming startups.

In 2025, the success (or failure) of mainstream integration through gaming, finance, and social applications will determine crypto’s future. Speculation alone cannot sustain another market cycle. Real adoption requires solving real problems for consumers beyond our existing community. The gaming industry, with its billions of users and appetite for innovation, represents our clearest path to achieving this scale. My hope is that 2025 will represent a critical inflection point for all consumer apps alongside Web3 gaming, and in turn, the crypto industry as a whole.

ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands, Dec. 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Nirvana, the pioneering DeFi protocol that enabled risk-free leverage through an innovative reserve-backed asset, has announced its relaunch as Nirvana V2, marking a new era for decentralized finance. This milestone follows the resolution of a saga: the July 2022 hack that resulted in stolen customer funds and a legal victory with the conviction of the hacker—the first-ever U.S. case involving DeFi hacking. Today, Nirvana celebrates restitution and reinvention, introducing advancements in security, governance, and tokenomics.

“Through relentless innovation and unwavering dedication to our community, we’ve turned adversity into opportunity,” said Alex Hoffman, Nirvana Co-Founder. “Nirvana V2 is not just a relaunch—it’s a bold statement about what DeFi can achieve: fairness, resilience, and shared prosperity.”

Complete Restitution and Perpetual Recovery

In a first for DeFi, Nirvana V2 has fully reimbursed all funds stolen in the 2022 hack. The protocol now features a built-in revenue-sharing mechanism, ensuring continuous distribution of all protocol revenue to hack victims in perpetuity—a unique model that sets a precedent for community-first recovery efforts.

Innovating for Security and Stability

Nirvana V2 addresses vulnerabilities head-on with a new single-collateral reserve system that enhances security and stability. This isolated design prevents cascading failures and safeguards the protocol against external shocks, delivering a more robust and resilient platform.

Decentralized Governance for the Future

Governance in Nirvana V2 is fully decentralized and reimagined through its Automated Token-Managed Adjustments (ATMA) system. This novel approach enables continuous, incremental adjustments to protocol parameters through token-based voting. Unlike legacy systems, Nirvana V2’s governance tokens are earned exclusively through organic protocol usage, with no pre-launch insider allocations. These tokens act as revenue-sharing assets, aligning the interests of governance participants with the protocol’s potential earnings.

A New Tokenomic Paradigm: The Market-Driven Mint

At the heart of Nirvana is the Market-Driven Mint (MDM)—an innovative framework for token price stability. The MDM ensures that all potential liquidity is protocol-owned, creating:

• Durability: Permanent liquidity reserves for every token in supply.
• Predictability: A transparent algorithm adjusts pricing based on demand.
• Reliability: A rising floor price guarantees a minimum exit value, preventing crashes.
• Fairness: Equitable token distribution with no insider allocations.

With the MDM, Nirvana’s ANA token features a rising floor price mechanism, which moves upwards automatically as demand grows. This reserve-backed floor produces asymmetric opportunities: unlimited upside potential and limited downside risk. ANA’s rising floor also positions it as a uniquely reliable collateral within Nirvana’s ecosystem.

Expanding Horizons: Asset Diversity and Ecosystem Growth

Nirvana V2 will initially launch with stablecoins like USDC, providing a solid foundation before expanding to speculative assets such as SOL and BTC. Moreover, the MDM offers a permissionless launchpad for new tokens, empowering projects to leverage its rising floor price and protocol-owned liquidity.

A Vision for DeFi’s Future

Nirvana was born out of a desire to address systemic inequities in traditional DeFi protocols. Legacy systems often suffer from insider allocations, opaque operations, and unstable liquidity solutions. Nirvana’s innovative MDM and decentralized governance mechanisms aim to set a new standard, offering transparency, fairness, and enduring value.

“Nirvana V2 is more than a comeback—it’s a leap forward,” added Hoffman. “We’ve created a system that not only restores trust but also pushes the boundaries of what decentralized finance can achieve.”

About Nirvana

Founded by a distributed team of DeFi veterans with deep roots in the Solana ecosystem, Nirvana Finance is on a mission to redefine token markets and elevate the decentralized finance landscape. With the relaunch of Nirvana V2, the team reaffirms its commitment to building secure, transparent, and equitable financial systems for all.

Contact

Jon Phillips

Nirvana Finance

Nirvana@PhillComm.Global

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b8c3939b-8799-441b-b7e2-839f75fe05b2

Popular Telegram tap-to-earn game TapSwap revealed it will launch its TAPS token on The Open Network (TON) alongside an airdrop of rewards for players in the second half of January 2025. 

TAPS will become a critical resource in the TapSwap ecosystem, the developers said, granting holders access to tournaments, staking rewards, and governance participation. 

Whether or not a player receives the TAPS airdrop will be determined by the player’s overall engagement within TapSwap—in other words, how often a player interacted within TapSwap or played the game. Users will need to connect their wallet to receive the airdrop.

What started as a tap-to-earn game on Telegram, in which users repeatedly tap a button on the screen to earn in-game coins, has since evolved. In August, the game added a city builder mode called “Tappy Town,” and achievements accrued through that experience will also affect the likelihood of receiving a TAPS airdrop. 

Alongside the airdrop, the game’s evolution is expected to continue. TapSwap is transitioning into a skill-based platform, offering competitive tournaments to players and “leaving traditional pay-to-win models behind,” a representative for the game told Decrypt. 

The platform has amassed more than 50 million users globally since its launch in February.

Telegram gaming and participation on The Open Network has blossomed this year, led by popular mini apps and games like Hamster Kombat and Notcoin. Notcoin famously dropped more than 35 million players over 80 billion tokens earlier this year, gaining listings from Binance and OKX in the process. 

The Open Network is a layer-1 network created by Nikolai and Pavel Durov, the co-founders of messaging app Telegram. While development began internally, the company dropped the project in 2020 under regulatory scrutiny, leading a community of external developers to continue building the ecosystem.

Its native token, Toncoin (TON), has risen nearly 200% in the last year, pushing it to more than a $16 billion market cap. That’s made it the 16th-largest crypto asset by market capitalization, according to CoinGecko. 

Edited by Andrew Hayward