Author: Coindesk

In the world of crypto, digital assets, and the dream of decentralization, the middleman is a figure of scorn. We speak of peer-to-peer networks, of unmediated transactions flowing freely across borders, with no need for gatekeepers. Yet, whether we like it or not, intermediaries haunt every corner of this landscape. Some extract rent for their services; others simply maintain order in the chaos. But let’s be clear — whenever there’s a hiccup, a wallet vulnerability, or a glitch in a smart contract, someone must step in. And that someone, whether you call them a middleman or not, holds the keys…

Last night’s freewheeling presidential debate was heavy on insults, light on policy, and contained no mention of digital assets. But, if the presidential candidates were ignoring crypto, crypto wasn’t ignoring the presidential candidates. Leading names were quick to weigh in on everything from body language to whether dogs were really being eaten by illegal immigrants. Read the full article here

But there were also plenty of side bets at stake – and scads of memecoins launched including DWEBATE, DOMALA TRUMPIS, PEPEDENTIAL DEBATES and WW3, which sprung up to satirize the entire spectacle, or to document some of the more memorable zingers. (Many of the memecoin names were not remotely safe for a PG-rated blockchain tech newsletter.) Some Polymarket wagers paid off handsomely when Trump claimed – falsely, according to the Wall Street Journal – that migrants are “eating the dogs” in Springfield, Ohio. (That also sparked a few new memecoins, including EATING DOGS AND CATS.) Read the full article here

The bill will clarify that these assets are considered personal property under British law. Once enacted, it will give the legal profession guidelines to follow when there’s a dispute on ownership, such as during a divorce. It will also provide protection to crypto owners, whether individuals or companies, who are hit by fraud and scams. Read the full article here

Staking has grown in popularity in recent years due to the availability of staking-as-a-service, pooled staking, and the growth of liquid re-staking. As of July 2024, Ethereum’s security budget amounts to a staggering $110 billion worth of ETH, representing roughly 28% of the total ETH supply. There is also a general adoption of staking features within exchanges and financial applications allowing people to allocate their ETH to secure the Ethereum network. Many view staking as a low-risk return on investment, which makes it appealing to ETH holders. Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, holds a portion of his ETH staked, although…

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence.…

As a result of the “Great Chain Divide,” as Osmosis calls it, DeFi platforms generally operate in their own little universes, each with its own stockpiles of assets for users to buy and sell. Because these stockpiles tend to live on different blockchains, serious crypto trading generally requires one to download and keep track of a myriad of different wallet tools – a huge pain for users. Read the full article here

In traditional markets, U.S. stock index futures have added a bit to losses, with the both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq down 0.5%. The U.S. 10-year Treasury yield has gained 3 basis points to 3.68% and the dollar index has risen 0.15%. The price of gold has dipped 0.45% to $2,532 per ounce. Read the full article here

The election is in less than two months. In a little over four months, the U.S. will have a new commander-in-chief, who can nominate new regulatory agency and Department heads and drive policy. Obviously, the crypto industry is interested. Alas, the issue did not make an appearance Tuesday night. Read the full article here

Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated.CoinDesk is an award-winning media outlet that covers the cryptocurrency industry. Its journalists abide by a strict set of editorial policies. In November 2023, CoinDesk was acquired by the Bullish group, owner of Bullish, a regulated, digital assets exchange. The Bullish group is majority-owned by Block.one; both companies have interests in a variety of blockchain and digital asset businesses and significant holdings of digital assets, including bitcoin. CoinDesk operates as an independent subsidiary with an editorial committee to protect journalistic independence.…