So, Let's Talk About HBAR 📢

HBAR drama, hedge funds and memecoins, Paypal green, Solana DEX going mobile, CZ's possible jail time, and PuffGo moving to Ronin

Author

Jonathan Morgan
April 24, 2024

OVERVIEW

So, Let’s Talk About HBAR 📢

The crypto market today was kind of ‘meh,’ but there is some excitement, and it has everything to do with Hedera ($HBAR). It’s up 74% yesterday and down -23% today - what the heck is going on? 😲

Today, we’re tackling the drama of HBAR’s recent price action as our primary story because it serves as a warning and reminder for everyone that you always need to “trust, but verify” in crypto.

Also on deck: hedge funds in memecoins, PayPal ($PYPL) incentivizing green $BTC mining, Solana’s biggest DEX targeting mobile, how long CZ could go away for, and PuffGo moving to Ronin.

Before we dive in, here’s today’s crypto market heatmap: 

And here’s a look at crypto’s total and altcoin market cap YTD:

HEDERA
Decoding BlackRock's Involvement in HBAR 😲

Hedera Hashgraph ($HBAR) has been one of the most talked-about crypto tickers on Stocktwits and across crypto social media. 🗣️

Why? Because a BlackRock ($BLK) money market fund is being tokenized on HBAR's blockchain. But let's walk through the HBAR shenanigans from the beginning.

Yesterday, Hedera closed higher by an insane +73%, the biggest single-day gain since February 12, 2020. The following headlines certainly helped propel the FOMO:

But the most powerful FOMO generated was by whoever was captaining the USS Pampy McPamp Pamp X account from the HBAR Foundation because they posted this doozie:

Today we witness #RWA history as @BlackRock’s ICS US Treasury money market fund (MMF) is tokenized on @Hedera with @ArchaxEx and @OwneraIO, marking a major milestone in asset management by bringing the world’s largest asset manager on-chain 🏦 - HBAR Foundation 😵

Excitement Tempered

BlackRock tokenizing on HBAR?! Well, how could you not be super pumped?! Fast forward a bit and HBAR is down -23%, and these are some of the headlines out today:

The crux of the misunderstanding lies in the difference between involvement and commitment. While BlackRock's fund was the subject of tokenization, Archax decided and acted to tokenize, not BlackRock. 

BlackRock was aware but not actively involved, a subtle yet crucial distinction that took time to permeate the market's consciousness. 🤔

Let me put it this way:

Imagine you have a big box of Legos. Your friends come over to play, but one of your friends, Todd, sorts them into little piles and tells everyone about it. You see Todd organizing the Legos and think, 'meh, ok'. You didn't help sort the Legos; you just watched.

BlackRock is like you with your Legos—they own them but didn't sort them. Todd, who sorted the Legos, is like Archax, who did all the sorting by himself.

Even Archax’s CEO, in an 18-piece X thread, emphasized that BlockRock’s involvement was limited to their awareness of and non-objection to tokenization. 💡

Trust But Verify

This episode is a case study of the importance of verifying information and doing due diligence. And always remember these wise words from Abraham Lincoln: “Don’t believe everything you read on the Internet.” 🧠

NEWS
Hedge Funds' New Bet: Memecoins 🐶

Hedge funds are now captivated by the high-risk, high-reward world of memecoins. 📈

Notably, the Stratos hedge fund had substantial returns in Q1 with a 137% gain thanks to the Dogwifhat ($WIF), a $SOL-based memecoin that surged by over 300$%.

This frenzy isn't limited to just one fund; giants like Brevan Howard and Pantera Capital also explored these speculative assets, drawn by their potential for outsized returns.

Despite some describing memecoin trading as akin to gambling, proponents argue these coins now represent cultural touchstones, suggesting a shift from mere speculative tools to symbols of communal identity. 🚀

NEWS
Three Years For CZ?

U.S. prosecutors are seeking a three-year prison sentence for Changpeng Zhao, founder of the cryptocurrency exchange Binance after he pleaded guilty to significant anti-money laundering law violations. 😔

This request was filed in a Seattle federal court. It advocates for a sentence that doubles the maximum guideline of 18 months to highlight the severity of Zhao's actions.

The company faced accusations of facilitating transactions linked to criminal activities, including dealings with designated terrorist groups and other illegal entities. The final sentencing by U.S. District Judge Richard Jones is set for April 30. 📆

SOLANA
Solana's Jupiter Sets Sights on Mobile ☎️

Jupiter, a leading decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregator on the Solana blockchain, has announced the acquisition of Ultimate Wallet to expand its mobile presence. 📱 

Scheduled for a beta launch in May, this move is part of Jupiter's broader initiative to enhance user experience and facilitate on-chain trading via mobile devices. The acquisition allows Jupiter to introduce a native mobile wallet, broadening its ecosystem. Ultimate Wallet will sunset its current app, guiding users through a secure transition to the new platform.

This development signifies Jupiter's commitment to capturing a larger share of the mobile trading market, enhancing its already hefty $381.49 million total value locked (TVL) and leveraging the growing interest in memecoins to fuel its expansion. 🌐

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NFTS
Puffverse Joins Ronin 🎰

Puffverse, a play-to-earn gaming platform, is migrating from $BNB Chain to the $ETH-based Ronin network 🎮. 

It also raised $3 million funding round led by Animoca Brands, with contributions from several prominent investors, including Ronin's creator, Sky Mavis.

PuffGo draws inspiration from the popular Web2 game Fall Guys and will integrate play-to-earn elements and user-generated content, marking Puffverse's first launch on the Ronin blockchain.

The migration will occur with a snapshot on April 29, followed by an airdrop of Ronin-compatible NFTs to current holders. Additionally, a new PUFF token and NFT collection are slated for release later this year on Ronin. 🚀

NEWS
PayPal's Green Bitcoin Mining Initiative 🟢

PayPal’s ($PYPL) Blockchain Research Group is pioneering a green shift in $BTC mining, collaborating with Energy Web and DMG Blockchain Solutions to incentivize sustainable mining practices. 🌿

Their proposed system rewards "green miners" who use low-emission energy sources, by directing on-chain transactions to them at lower fees. This innovative approach not only supports the clean energy transition but also aligns with global decarbonization efforts, marking a significant step towards environmentally responsible crypto mining. 

As the industry faces criticism for its high energy consumption, initiatives like PayPal's present a viable solution to align Bitcoin's energy-intensive operations with sustainability goals. 🌍

NEWS
Crypto News In Three Sentences 📰

📉 Cardano's price is experiencing a downturn, currently trading just above $0.50, marking a decline as it exits the global top 10 crypto rankings. Despite a recent recovery attempt, ADA's inability to sustain gains and its relative underperformance compared to peers highlights challenges in achieving broader adoption. With a significantly lower total value locked in its DeFi ecosystem compared to competitors, Cardano faces ongoing scrutiny and skepticism about its future prospects in the blockchain space. From Crypto News.

💍Melania Trump has introduced a new line of customizable Mother’s Day jewelry, priced at $245, which includes a unique flower pendant that can be personalized with names or dates. Each purchase comes with a limited-edition NFT on the Solana blockchain, marking Melania’s ongoing exploration of digital collectibles independent of political engagements. This venture represents her continued interest in merging fashion with technology, distancing her personal brand from the political sphere. Bitcoin News has more.

🤖 Google's latest research warns of the potential for users to develop unhealthy emotional attachments to AI assistants, which could lead to social and psychological issues. The paper from DeepMind suggests that advanced AI could transform societal structures but cautions against the dangers of over-reliance on these technologies for personal interaction. More from Decrypt.

🌉 Blockchain analytics firm Arkham has revealed that millions of dollars are either stuck or forgotten in bridge contracts, including funds from notable figures like $ETH co-founder Vitalik Buterin. These bridges, crucial for transferring assets across different blockchain platforms, are highlighted as potential security risks, susceptible to hacks and losses. The report raises concerns about the safety and management of assets in decentralized finance, particularly in the context of cross-chain operations. From Cointelegraph.

🚘 Tesla's ($TSLA) $BTC holdings remained unchanged at 9,720 BTC, valued at $184 million by the end of the third quarter. That marks a steady position for the fifth consecutive quarter, according to their latest earnings report. The electric car giant, which ranks third among publicly traded companies in Bitcoin holdings, did not engage in buying or selling the cryptocurrency during the period. CoinDesk has more.

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