Author: msmark

Vitalik Buterin and the Ethereum Foundation are exploring five strategies to decrease Ethereum’s maximum block size, aiming to optimize the blockchain for a “rollup-centric roadmap.” Ethereum, the second-largest blockchain network, is exploring strategies to optimize its block size amidst a shift towards a rollup-centric approach, aiming for more efficient data handling. On Feb. 5, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Ethereum Foundation researcher Toni Wahrstätter highlighted the pressing need for optimization as the effective block size has nearly doubled over the past year. On Increasing the Block Gas LimitBy:– Toni– VitalikELI5Special thanks to the Starkware team for feedback and data!Important Takeaways:##…

Bid-ask spreads on major U.S. exchanges like Coinbase and Kraken have tightened post-spot ETF approvals, signaling enhanced market liquidity and depth, analysts at Kaiko say. Bid-ask spreads for Bitcoin (BTC), which represent the difference between the highest bid and lowest ask prices, have decreased significantly post-approval, indicating an improvement in market liquidity and deeper trading activity. In a recent research report, analysts at Kaiko revealed that U.S.-based crypto exchange Kraken experienced the highest volatility in spreads during January, reaching a peak of 10 basis points on Jan. 20. Similarly, spreads on Bitstamp and Coinbase also peaked between Jan. 8 and…

The EigenLayer (TVL) protocol’s total locked value exceeded $1 billion after staking restrictions were removed to create more “organic demand” on the network. According to EigenLayer, the protocol team has decided to raise the staking limit to 200,000 Ethereum (ETH) by Feb. 9 to create “organic demand” on the network. The minutes say this temporary removal “paves the way for a future” where all betting restrictions will be removed permanently. According to DefiLlama, following the announcement, the protocol’s TVL increased from approximately $2.5 billion to nearly $3.65 billion at publication as investors funneled their respective liquid ETH tokens into the…

Ethereum (ETH) price has steadied above the $2,300 on Feb. 6 while Bitcoin (BTC) and the rest of the crypto markets battle a $37 billion setback.   Vital on-chain data trends highlight how rising ETH 2.0 staking inflows ahead of the upcoming Dencun upgrade have contributed to the positive start to February despite prevailing bearish headwinds across the crypto markets.  Ethereum price has outperformed the market in February  Ethereum price has bucked market trends this week, making sizable gains in the first 5 days of February 2024, while the Bitcoin (BTC) and rest of the crypto market has stumbled.  Between Jan.…

The native token of the Ethereum Name Service platform, ENS, has emerged as the top gainer among the leading 100 cryptocurrencies after teaming up with the popular domain name registrar GoDaddy.  ENS is up by 19.3% in the past 24 hours and is trading at $21.6 at the time of writing. Following the price hike, the asset’s market cap surpassed the $660 million mark — making it the 93rd-largest crypto. ENS price, whale activity, RSI, funding rates and open interest – Feb. 6 | Source: Santiment The daily trading volume of ENS also rallied by 225%, reaching $200 million. Data…

The Ethereum (ETH) balance in multiple mainstream centralized exchanges, like Coinbase and Binance, has hit a new low. According to Leon Waidmann on X, over 7 million ETH have been withdrawn since April 2023.  Is It DeFi, NFT, Or EigenLayer Sapping ETH From Exchanges? This decline is net bullish for the coin, possibly hinting that other on-chain activities like non-fungible token (NFT) minting or decentralized finance (DeFi) are taking center stage.  Ethereum price trending sideways on the daily chart | Source: ETHUSDT on Binance, TradingView Coincidentally, the drop also comes amid the rise of “restaking” enabled by protocols like EigenLayer. The…

GoDaddy Inc., a leading domain registration and web hosting company, has partnered with Ethereum Name Service (ENS) to facilitate connecting traditional domain names with blockchain-based .eth names.The collaboration was announced in a press release on Feb. 5. It aims to allow the seamless connection of the Domain Name System (DNS) with blockchain technology, enabling over 20 million GoDaddy users to access the benefits of ENS infrastructure without incurring additional costs or requiring technical expertise.Paul Nicks, GoDaddy’s president of domains, said the collaboration is a merger of domain and blockchain technologies that will allow domain users to explore the latter’s benefits…

Crypto-related investment products saw a notable upswing in inflows last week, totaling a substantial $708 million, according to CoinShares’ latest weekly report.This positive shift reverses two consecutive weeks of outflows from the industry, bringing the total Year-to-date flow to an impressive $1.6 billion. Altogether, the global assets under management for these products have risen to $53 billion.“Trading volumes in ETPs fell to $8.2 billion compared to the prior week’s total of $10.6 billion, although remain well above the $1.5 billion week average in 2023. These volumes comprise 29% of Bitcoin’s total trading on trusted exchanges,” CoinShares Head of Research James…

Ethereum (ETH), the second largest cryptocurrency asset, is anticipated by several well-known analysts in the crypto industry to undergo a price surge in the upcoming months as the market is seeing a wave of bullish momentum. Ethereum Poised To Go Parabolic In The Upcoming Months Altcoin Daily crypto analysts have revealed three major factors that could propel the price of Ethereum in the coming months. The analysts shared their optimistic insights for ETH in a recent episode – “Ethereum price is still ready to explode” on YouTube. According to the Altcoin Daily analysts, Ethereum is expected to reach $4,000 in…

In 2023, the blockchain security landscape witnessed a $50 billion drop in lost crypto assets, depicting a shift towards enhanced security protocols and the maturation of the DeFi ecosystem.According to crypto security firm Hacken’s end-of-year report, last year marked a notable reduction in the scale of financial damages from hacks and scams. Total losses amounted to $1.9 billion, starkly contrasting the staggering figures recorded in previous years. The decrease in lost value signals a significant advancement in the industry’s efforts to fortify security measures and address vulnerabilities more effectively.Across the industry, BNB Chain was subjected to the most attacks, at…