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Trump Makes More Pro-Crypto Appointments

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Welcome to The Protocol, CoinDesk’s weekly wrap-up of the most important stories in cryptocurrency tech development.

In this week’s issue of the Protocol newsletter:

  • Trump’s crypto team
  • Aptos’ leadership shake-up
  • TikTok meets tokens
  • Kraken scales up

This article is featured in the latest issue of The Protocol, our weekly newsletter exploring the tech behind crypto, one block at a time. Sign up here to get it in your inbox every Wednesday.


Network News

TRUMP CRYPTO APPOINTMENTS: President-elect Donald Trump continues to make high-profile appointments embracing cryptocurrency and emerging technologies in his second term. 1) Stephen Miran, tapped as Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers, is a pro-crypto advocate who aims to integrate blockchain and decentralized finance into the U.S. economy. 2) Bo Hines, a former college football player, will head the newly formed Crypto Council. Hines is tasked with balancing innovation and consumer protection as he builds a regulatory framework for digital assets. 3) David Sacks, a veteran of Silicon Valley and vocal blockchain supporter, is stepping in as AI and Crypto Czar. Sacks plans to merge blockchain with AI while bolstering U.S. dominance in both sectors. These appointments signal a clear shift from Trump’s earlier skepticism of digital assets. The big question now is how these moves translate into meaningful policy amid regulatory gridlock and political friction.

APTOS LEADERSHIP SHIFT: Aptos Labs CEO and co-founder Mo Shaikh has stepped down, with co-founder Avery Ching taking over as CEO. Shaikh, who will remain a strategic adviser, highlighted the company’s achievements, including raising $400 million in venture funding and building a thriving ecosystem supported by partners like BlackRock, Google, Mastercard, and PayPal. Known for its layer-1 blockchain leveraging the Move programming language from Facebook’s Diem project, Aptos Labs is expanding into finance and AI applications with the help of advisers like former Grayscale CEO Michael Sonnenshein and OpenAI’s Kevin Weil. The leadership transition underscores the company’s ongoing focus on scalability, security, and innovation in blockchain technology.

SONIC TO AIRDROP TIKTOK: Sonic, a Layer 2 solution on the Solana blockchain, has announced plans to airdrop its native token, SONIC, to TikTok users. This initiative aims to introduce TikTok’s vast user base to decentralized finance (DeFi) by integrating blockchain technology with social media platforms. The airdrop is part of Sonic’s strategy to enhance user engagement and promote the adoption of Layer 2 solutions for improved scalability and reduced transaction costs on the Solana network. By targeting TikTok users, Sonic seeks to bridge the gap between mainstream social media audiences and the DeFi ecosystem, fostering broader participation in decentralized financial services.

ALSO:

  • MicroStrategy added 5,262 BTC to its holdings as its stock secures a spot on the Nasdaq 100, reinforcing its long-standing Bitcoin strategy.
  • Nokia enters the crypto world with a patented technology for encrypting digital assets, signaling its move into blockchain innovation.
  • Ripple’s legal chief urges Congress to focus on regulating crypto practices rather than stifling innovation by targeting the technology itself.

Feature: Kraken’s Ink Layer-2 Goes Live

Kraken's layer-2 Ink goes live on mainnet (CoinDesk)

Kraken, the seventh-largest crypto exchange, said its layer-2 rollup network, built on top of the Ethereum blockchain, has gone live.

The network, called Ink, is based on the OP stack, a customizable framework that lets developers build their own rollups using Optimism’s technology. The team had originally planned for Ink to go live in early 2025, so the launch of its main network is ahead of schedule.

Kraken agreed to receive 25 million OP tokens (worth about $58 million) as part of a deal to build on the OP Stack. Optimism has acknowledged that handing out developer grants for participants building on the stack is part of its strategy, which in turn contributes back to the wider “Superchain” ecosystem.Kraken competitor Coinbase said in August 2023 that it would build a layer-2 network with OP Stack.

The product, called Base, is now the second-largest rollup network according to L2beat. At the time, Optimism said the Base team would receive up to 118 million OP tokens and, in return, would contribute the higher of 2.5% of its sequencer revenue or 15% of its profits to the Optimism Collective.

Read the full story by Margaux Nijkerk here


Money Center

Fundraising

  • Avalon Labs has secured $10 million in a Series A funding round to expand its Bitcoin-backed stablecoin, aiming to enhance liquidity and stability in the cryptocurrency market. The investment reflects growing interest in Bitcoin-collateralized financial products as a bridge between traditional finance and digital assets.

Deals & Grants

  • Tether has announced a $75 million deal to acquire a stake in Rumble, a video-sharing platform. The investment aims to support decentralized media and aligns with Tether’s commitment to fostering open communication technologies.

Data & Tokens

  • Bonk (BONK) surged 30%, leading a rebound among dog-themed meme tokens, with Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Dogecoin (DOGE) also experiencing gains. Additionally, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) classified Floki (FLOKI) as a utility token, potentially influencing its regulatory status.

Data Corner: 60M USDC Outflows Hit Hyper Liquid

Hyper Liquid, a cryptocurrency exchange focused on perpetual contracts, has reported a record outflow of $60 million in USDC amid speculation that North Korea is investigating the platform. The sudden exodus of funds raises questions about the exchange’s liquidity and the stability of its operations. This highlights the growing tension of crypto markets with geopolitical issues, as regulatory scrutiny and potential misuse of platforms by state actors come into focus. The incident underscores the vulnerabilities in crypto markets, particularly for exchanges dealing with high-risk financial products like perpetual contracts. Hyper Liquid’s situation may prompt further scrutiny of similar platforms, emphasizing the need for stronger safeguards in the face of increasing global regulatory pressure.

USDC net flows on HyperLiquid. (Hashed Official/Dune)

Get the full scoop by Omkar Godbole here


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Crypto Whales Load Up $3,807,886,076 Worth of Ethereum in Just Two Days, According to Analyst

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A prominent crypto analyst says deep-pocketed investors have been spotted loading up huge amounts of Ethereum (ETH).

Trader Ali Martinez tells his 119,200 followers on the social media platform X that crypto whales gobbled up more than $3.80 billion worth of Ethereum in a two-day span.

“Whales have bought over 1.14 million Ethereum $ETH in [48 hours!]”

Image
Source: Ali Martinez/X

At time of writing, Ethereum is trading for $3,340.

The trader is also keeping an eye on the interoperable blockchain Polkadot (DOT). According to Martinez, DOT looks primed to ignite a big upside burst as it threatens to break out from a bullish continuation pattern.

“Polkadot DOT looks ready to break out of a bull pennant, targeting $17!”

Image
Source: Ali Martinez/X

At time of writing, DOT is worth $6.34.

Looking at the layer-1 protocol Aptos (APT), Martinez warns that the crypto asset appears to be forming a bearish reversal structure on the 12-hour chart. The trader says that APT has to spark rallies soon otherwise the altcoin might witness a severe corrective move.

“Aptos APT appears to be forming a head-and-shoulders pattern, with a potential downside target of $4.30. A sustained close above $10.50 is needed to invalidate the bearish outlook.”

Image
Source: Ali Martinez/X

At time of writing, APT is trading for $8.26.

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Ali Martinez

Here’s How Aptos Price Could Slide Further Down Toward $4.3

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Opeyemi is a proficient writer and enthusiast in the exciting and unique cryptocurrency realm. While the digital asset industry was not his first choice, he has remained absolutely drawn since making a foray into the space over two years. Now, Opeyemi takes pride in creating unique pieces unraveling the complexities of blockchain technology and sharing insights on the latest trends in the world of cryptocurrencies.

Opeyemi savors his attraction to the crypto market, which explains why he spends the better parts of his day looking through different price charts. “Looking” is a rather simple way to describe analyzing and interpreting various price patterns and chart formations. However, it appears that is not Opeyemi’s favorite part – in fact, far from it.

Being able to connect what happens on a price chart to on-chain movements and blockchain activities is what keeps Opeyemi ticking. “This emphasizes the intricacies of blockchain technology and the cryptocurrency market,” he would say. Most importantly, Opeyemi thinks of any market insights as the gospel, while recognizing that he is only a messenger.

When he is not clicking away at his keyboard, Opeyemi is most definitely listening to music, playing games, reading a book, or scrolling through X. He likes to think he is not loyal to a particular genre of music, which can be true on many days. However, the fast-rising Afrobeats genre is a staple in Opeyemi’s Spotify Daily Mix.

Meanwhile, Opeyemi is a voracious reader who enjoys a wide category of books – ranging from science fiction, fantasy, and historical, to even romance. He believes that authors like George R. R. Martin and J. K.
Rowling are the greatest of all time when it comes to putting pen to paper. Opeyemi believes his reading of the Harry Potter series twice is proof of that.

Indeed, Opeyemi enjoys spending most of his time within the four walls of his home. However, he also sometimes finds solace in the company of his friends at a bar, a restaurant, or even on a stroll. In essence, Opeyemi’s ambivert (haha! been searching for an opportunity to use the word to describe myself) nature makes him a social chameleon who is able to quickly adapt to different settings.

Opeyemi recognizes the need to constantly develop oneself in order to stay afloat in a competitive and ever-evolving market like crypto. For this reason, he is always in learning mode, ready to pick up the slightest lesson from every situation. Opeyemi is efficient and likes to deliver all that is required of him in time – he believes that “whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.” Hence, you will always find him striving to be better.

Ultimately, Opeyemi is a good writer and an even better person who is trying to shed light on an exciting world phenomenon – cryptocurrency. He goes to bed every day with a smile of satisfaction on his face, knowing that he has done his bit of the holy assignment – spreading the crypto gospel to the rest of the world.



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Aptos Leverages Chainlink To Enhance Scalability and Data Access

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Thodoris Karakostas, head of blockchain partnerships at Chainlink commented,

“We are excited that Aptos has adopted the Chainlink standard. Chainlink Data Feeds will greatly enhance the reliability of applications built on the network, and we look forward to seeing the innovative ways developers leverage it.”

It is worth noting that Aptos Labs co-founder and CEO, Mo Shaikh recently resigned, with co-founder Avery Ching taking over as CEO.

Scalability and Security With Aptos’ Modular Architecture

Aptos has positioned itself as a high-performance blockchain with a focus on scalability and security. Its use of the Move programming language and Block-STM engine allows for efficient execution of complex transactions. This modular architecture supports reduced latency, ensuring fast and seamless user experiences.

With the addition of Chainlink Data Feeds, Aptos strengthens its ability to support enterprise-grade applications. Developers can now build decentralized solutions with enhanced security and scalability, addressing the evolving needs of blockchain users.

Chainlink has become a trusted standard for delivering verifiable data to blockchains, supporting major decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols. Its decentralized infrastructure eliminates manipulation risks by providing tamper-proof data through a network of reliable nodes. 

Chainlink’s technology plays a critical role in advancing Web3 by enabling real-time and accurate data delivery.

Notably, earlier this week, Ripple partnered with Chainlink to enhance its Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin. Consequently, Chainlink’s decentralized oracle network now delivers secure price feeds for RLUSD on both Ethereum and the XRP Ledger.

Ripple’s adoption underscores the growing importance of secure data delivery in blockchain-based finance. The collaboration will boost RLUSD adoption by ensuring real-time, accurate pricing data. This will actively bridge the gap between blockchain technology and traditional finance.

Meanwhile, LINK whales offloaded 770,000 tokens worth $18.4 million between January 1 and January 4, following a 21% price rally. 

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Ronny Mugendi

Ronny Mugendi is a seasoned crypto journalist with four years of professional experience, having contributed significantly to various media outlets on cryptocurrency trends and technologies. With over 4000 published articles across various media outlets, he aims to inform, educate and introduce more people to the Blockchain and DeFi world. Outside of his journalism career, Ronny enjoys the thrill of bike riding, exploring new trails and landscapes.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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