The Eastern Herald: TMRW Conference Completed Its Spectacular Debut In Dubai

The Eastern Herald: TMRW Conference Completed Its Spectacular Debut In Dubai

TMRW conference powered by 2142, the largest emerging tech event, just delivered its groundbreaking debut edition in Dubai. More than 2,000 visitors and 10,000 online viewers from all over the world, were enjoying the conference’s outstanding program alongside networking events, VIP dinner,s and parties, from February 8th till 10th 2023 at Dubai Festival City. TMRW Dubai welcomed 80 internationally acclaimed tech masterminds such as CRAIG SELLARS, DR. MARWAN AL ZAROUNI, DR. MICHAEL GEBERT, CHRISTOPHER GLEICH, DAVINCI JEREMIE, DR. CHRISTINA YAN ZANG, CHRISTOPHER QUET, KHALIFA ALJAZIRI ALSHEHHI, ABDULLA ZIAD GALADARI, DUSAN ZICA, STEPHANIE BRETONNIERE, CANER SEVINC, ANNDY LIAN, JENNY ZHENG and many more.

They were all presenting their keynotes, participating in panel discussions, interactive workshops, and fireside chats, bringing the latest trends from disruptive technologies such as blockchain development, NFT utilization, the future of the Metaverse and Web3, artificial intelligence (AI), and many more. As always, TMRW brought mind-blowing stage production while the opening ceremony was a trailblazing spectacle with the astronaut on stage, immersed in smoke, pyrotechnics, and special effects.

The second Belgrade edition of the TMRW conference is announced, scheduled for May 12 – 14 2023. “I want to thank everyone who supported us at our Dubai debut; our amazing speakers, partners, media, and audience. Our goal has always been to connect our visitors with the greatest global minds, to inspire the move forward, and to bring the future closer. We are working hard to bring the highest quality programming alongside incredible productions while providing networking opportunities to everyone involved. And we’re happy to be able to do it around the world. We are proud to announce our second Belgrade edition from May 12th till 14th, which will be our biggest event so far, and I would like to invite everyone to join us!” said Mladjen Merdovic, Founder and CEO of the TMRW conference.

Dr. Marwan Alzarouni, Strategic Advisor at Digital Dubai, welcomed the audience on the first day and emphasized Dubai’s role in being the hub of tech while Khalifa Al Jaziri Alshehhi, advisor of the Ministry of Economy, demonstrated the first Ministry having a presence in the Metaverse. They were followed by Michael Gebert, Chairman of the European Blockchain Association who was speaking about the future of blockchain, and Christian Gleich, CEO of one Big Wave who talked about the future of Metaverse. The panel of the day gathered the Web3 Lady leaders Loretta Joseph, Ritu Marya, Aleksa Mil, Jenny Zheng, and Anita Kalergis “KryptoGranny” to discuss the potential in Web3. Day one ended with the exclusive launch of the VVerse project. Christopher Quet, CEO and co-founder of Vverse Technologies, said: “We wanted to bring real-world use inside the Metaverse. We believe that Metaverse should be a land of opportunities bringing on abundance rather than scarcity. You can onboard and edit your own dimension with our builder and through our library of more than 100,000 assets. You can create events, concerts, you name it, you can do it.”

Day two continued to bring great topics and speakers. Loretta Joseph, Director at AP Capital, spoke about the different regulatory frameworks for digital and virtual assets: “I don’t think there’s ever been a more important time to be talking about regulation. Regulation is coming. We all need to work with the policymakers to ensure that we have sensible regulation, and to harness the opportunities of technology and innovation”, she said. Dr. Mark Van Rijmenam, The Digital Speaker, talked about generative AI and its convergence with the Metaverse. “We have this technology, which is super powerful to create text, voice, audio, virtual worlds, assets, anything on the fly just with your voice. That will create Metaverse and bring it faster than through coding.”

Anndy Lian, Best Selling Book Author- NFT: From Zero to Hero talked about Web4 as a new way to decentralize. “The Metaverse ecosystem and Web3 need to be more decentralized. Web4 would be a totally different era, with machines and with full automation. If we want to really create a more sustainable, decentralized environment, we’ve got to make the change. And again, a Web4 could be the possible angle.” Dusan Zica, CEO & CTO of the NFT Comic Book 2142, brought the philosophical approach to building the world in his keynote From NFT Comic Book to a video game: “The idea is to make comic books and video games presenting our view that technology should be in line with spirituality and humanity, and it should be observed strictly as a tool and not the driving force. Humanity’s humanity should be the driving force. Otherwise, the technology can get instrumentalized instead of becoming decentralized”, he concluded.

The last day of the conference brought the greatest global masterminds to the stage. Sharad Agarwal, Chief Metaverse Officer at cyber-gear.io, presented the topic Business and Metaverse: “I talked about how the Internet changed over the years. Metaverse as technology is something new, and over the next 5 to 7 years, we will see its mass adoption. Metaverse will be used in different industries. Brands should start dabbling with the Metaverse, get customers to experience it and eventually, they will succeed”, he added. Jonscott Turco, Founder & CEO at COre3.io, spoke about reinventing business and exploring opportunities and challenges of the metaverse and future technology.

“In the heart of every successful business is the belief that something greater exists than simply the bottom line. It’s a belief in the power of people and connection and today, more than ever, the power of technology to bring us closer together and amplify community and collective intelligence towards purposeful outcomes.” Davinci Jeremie talked about the differences between using NFTs for just artwork and for utility purposes.

“In return, you get access to someone or access to a concert; that’s an example of utility. I believe that it can also be useful in the community sense, where you bring a community of people together, sharing a common goal” Davinci Jeremie said.

Stephanie Bretonniere, CEO, POWR3 & WE IMPACT.WORLD explained how important it is to connect people. “Sustainability has to bring impact that will elaborate those technologies to convert every single individual into a changemaker.”

 

Source: https://www.easternherald.com/2023/02/19/tmrw-conference-completed-its-spectacular-debut-in-dubai/

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Exploring The Investment Trends Of Crypto Venture Capitalists In Today’s “Bullish” Market

Exploring The Investment Trends Of Crypto Venture Capitalists In Today’s “Bullish” Market

The value of a cryptocurrency can be influenced by various factors, including news about the cryptocurrency and its underlying technology, government regulations, and overall market conditions. The market can also be influenced by investor sentiment, which can be affected by a wide range of events. Just a month ago, everyone is still saying its a bear market. As of this week, everyone is cheering for the current bull run. Bitcoin reached its highest price since mid-August by breaking through the price ceiling of US$24,000. This was largely attributed to investors liquidating almost US$70 million of predominantly short-position bets.

There are many different types of investments in the cryptocurrency space, and the popular specific investments can vary over time.

More Popular Types Of Cryptocurrency Investments

Buying And Holding: This is the most straightforward and common investment strategy. Investors buy a cryptocurrency like Bitcoin or Ethereum and hold onto it for the long term, with the expectation that its value will increase over time.

Mining: Mining involves using computer hardware to solve complex mathematical problems and verify transactions on a blockchain network. Miners are rewarded with newly minted cryptocurrency as an incentive for their work.

Staking: Staking involves holding a certain amount of a cryptocurrency in a wallet and locking it up to support the network’s security and transaction processing. In exchange, stakers receive rewards in the form of newly minted coins.

Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) and Initial Exchange Offerings (IEOs): ICOs and IEOs are ways for companies to raise funds by selling newly created cryptocurrencies to investors. This strategy can be risky as some ICOs and IEOs have turned out to be scams.

Cryptocurrencies have several investment theses. Some investors believe that they have the potential to replace traditional fiat currencies, while others see them mainly as a store of value or a means of exchange. In addition, some investors see the underlying blockchain technology as having the potential to revolutionize a variety of industries, from supply chain management to identity verification.

Some Specific Investment Theses For Cryptocurrencies

The use of cryptocurrency as a means of exchange: Some people believe that cryptocurrencies will eventually be used as a primary means of exchange, replacing traditional fiat currencies.

The store of value thesis: Some people believe that cryptocurrencies will eventually be used as a store of value, similar to gold.

The blockchain revolution thesis: Some people believe that the underlying blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize a wide range of industries and that investing in cryptocurrencies is a way to get in on the ground floor of this technological revolution.

The “greater fool” theory: Some people believe that the price of a cryptocurrency will continue to go up as long as someone is willing to buy it at a higher price, even if there is no intrinsic value to the cryptocurrency. This is sometimes referred to as the “greater fool” theory of investing.

Venture capitalists (VCs) are individuals or firms who provide funding to early-stage companies in exchange for an equity stake. In the cryptocurrency space, VCs have traditionally invested directly in cryptocurrencies or blockchain-based startups, but recently there has been a shift in focus towards investments in blockchain infrastructure and applications.

The fall of FTX and other crypto exchanges has led VCs to become more cautious about investing in cryptocurrencies directly. Instead, they are looking to invest in companies that are building out the underlying technology and infrastructure of the blockchain. This includes companies that are developing blockchain-based platforms, building decentralized applications, or working on other blockchain-related projects.

The reason for this shift is that many VCs see a long-term potential for blockchain technology to disrupt various industries and believe that investing in the underlying infrastructure will yield better returns than investing directly in cryptocurrencies, which are known for their volatility. Another reason for this shift is that the regulatory landscape for cryptocurrencies is still uncertain and can create risks for investors. By investing in blockchain infrastructure and applications, VCs can mitigate some of these risks and potentially realize greater returns in the long run.

Some Specific Areas Of Interest For VCs In The Cryptocurrency Space.

Blockchain infrastructure: VCs are increasingly supporting startups working towards building a robust blockchain infrastructure. These companies focus on developing innovative solutions that can potentially revolutionize the blockchain ecosystem. One key area of interest for VCs is the development of new consensus algorithms. These algorithms enable network participants to agree on a shared state of the blockchain without relying on a centralized authority. Some companies are working on proof-of-stake (PoS) algorithms that reduce the energy consumption associated with proof-of-work (PoW) algorithms, which are used by Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.

They are also investing in layer1 companies, which are startups that focus on building the foundational infrastructure layer of the blockchain. These companies are working on creating new and innovative technologies that can potentially improve the scalability, security, and performance of the blockchain. Former team members from traditional finance giant Jump Trading have established a tech startup called Monad Labs, which has raised $19 million in seed funding. The company intends to create a new blockchain that addresses the shortcomings of existing layer 1 protocols. According to a statement, the Monad blockchain will be introduced on a testnet in the coming months, with plans for mainnet deployment later this year. The blockchain will use the proof-of-stake consensus mechanism and be compatible with the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), allowing projects on Monad to interact with the EVM software platform. This interoperability will enable developers from other blockchain projects to construct decentralized applications that can work together on the Ethereum network.

Web3 solutions: Web3, also known as Web 3.0, is the next iteration of the World Wide Web, and it is built on blockchain technology. It is designed to be more decentralized, secure, and open than the current Web. VCs are looking for projects that align with the core principles of Web3 and have the potential to drive its adoption and growth. This is another rising trend. Just last week alone, I noted more than $20 million were raised in the Web3 space.

  • Caldera, a provider of Web3 application infrastructure, has secured a total of $9 million in funding from two investment rounds. The funding was spearheaded by established financial powerhouse Sequoia Capital and digital currency-focused firm Dragonfly.
  • UK-based startup Nefta, which focuses on Web3 in the gaming and entertainment industry, has disclosed raising $5 million in a seed funding round led by the Future Fund of venture firm Play Ventures.
  • In a seed funding round co-led by Insignia Venture Partners, MindWorks Capital, and Signum Capital, Sending Labs has raised $12.5 million. The company’s objective is to offer a more accessible approach for developers and users to construct and engage with decentralized communication-based applications (dapps).

I noted amongst the VCs in my network they are also looking at blockchain applications. VCs have also invested in companies that are using the blockchain to build new applications, such as supply chain management platforms, decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, and decentralized identity solutions. Interoperability and cross-chain solutions, for example, aim to enable different blockchain networks to communicate and interact with each other and are also one of the top investment choices.

In my opinion, investing in blockchain infrastructure and applications is likely to promote the expansion and maturation of the cryptocurrency ecosystem, and potentially generate more sustainable returns for investors over the long term. However, it’s important to recognize that VC investment is just one aspect of the broader cryptocurrency ecosystem. Other investors, such as hedge funds, family offices, and individual investors, may have differing investment theses and strategies, which can also impact the market. It’s crucial to stay informed about the various factors that can influence the cryptocurrency space and adapt investment strategies accordingly. As a licensed fund manager and a VC myself for over a decade, this is my humble note to all.

“To achieve the best returns in the crypto space, it’s important to believe in the underlying technology, focus on community growth, and capitalize on market trends. By understanding the technology behind a particular cryptocurrency and its potential for solving real-world problems, investors can make informed investment decisions that align with their long-term goals.”- Anndy Lian

 

Source: https://uk.investing.com/news/cryptocurrency-news/exploring-the-investment-trends-of-crypto-venture-capitalists-in-todays-bullish-market-2923980

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Exploring the Thriving NFT Market and the Rise of Bitcoin NFTs

Exploring the Thriving NFT Market and the Rise of Bitcoin NFTs

According to data provided by NFT aggregation site CryptoSlam, non-fungible token (NFT) sales saw a significant rise of 8.5% during the period from February 10 to February 16 on a global scale.

The total sales volume for the week reached a staggering US$304 million, marking an increase from the previous week’s US$280 million in NFT sales.

The last two days of this seven-day period saw a notable spike in sales, with Thursday alone accounting for over 30% of the total sales volume, reaching a daily sales sum of US $92.9 million.

This single-day sales figure is the highest it has been since May 2022. The average price for NFT assets sold on Thursday was US $463.09, which is approximately 265% higher than the average price of US $175.57 on Tuesday.

According to Yohann Calpu, the chief marketing officer at CryptoSlam, this sudden surge in sales can be largely attributed to the Blur token airdrop that occurred on Tuesday.

The NFT market continues to thrive, with significant increases in sales indicating a growing interest in this innovative and exciting sector.

Blur, a feeless NFT marketplace, recently unveiled its Blur tokens and granted a 60-day window for users to collect their airdropped coins. As of 2:30 p.m. Singapore time, the cryptocurrency was valued at US $0.90, based on CoinGecko data.

Based on the DappRadar, Blur’s NFT marketplace has experienced a trading volume of US $471.7 million in the last 30 days, overtaking OpenSea, the current market leader with US 448.9 million.

While many are talking about Blur, I am watching Bitcoin NFTs closely.

Bitcoin NFTs are quickly becoming a hot new trend in the world of digital collectibles. The launch of the Ordinals protocol on the Bitcoin blockchain by software engineer Casey Rodarmor has provided a novel way to mint NFTs on the Bitcoin blockchain.

This has led to a surge in interest in Bitcoin assets, with many people excited about the possibilities of this new technology.

The Ordinals protocol allows users and builders to inscribe each “sat” (short for Satoshi) with data, including smart contracts, which can then be used to create NFTs on the blockchain.

One of the key differences between Ethereum-based NFTs and Bitcoin NFTs is that Ethereum NFTs typically point to off-chain data on the IPFS system, while all the data for Bitcoin NFTs is inscribed on-chain using the Ordinals protocol.

This provides a more secure and trustworthy way of creating and trading NFTs.

The introduction of Ordinal Punks is expected to change the game for Bitcoin NFTs. These digital collectibles are tradeable artifacts that are inscribed on the Bitcoin blockchain, and they have been incredibly popular with buyers so far.

The 10,000-piece collection has already been sold out, with some individual pieces selling for millions of dollars. However, one of the challenges with the project is that there is currently no centralized marketplace to buy and sell the crypto art once it has been minted.

This means that buyers and sellers must rely on social media channels like Discord to find each other and negotiate transactions.

Despite the popularity of Bitcoin NFTs, some Bitcoin maximalists have pushed back against the trend, arguing that it goes against the idea of Bitcoin as a financial asset. They believe that NFTs are simply a waste of network space and resources.

However, proponents of Bitcoin NFTs believe that they represent a new and exciting way to create digital collectibles that are secure, trustworthy, and unique.

Scott Tripp, President of Redecentralise Canada, commented: “Bitcoin is often considered to be one of the most decentralized cryptocurrencies due to its distributed network of nodes and miners.

The Bitcoin blockchain is maintained by a decentralized network of nodes that are spread across the globe and work together to validate transactions and add new blocks to the chain.

The decentralized nature of the Bitcoin network may appeal to creators and collectors who are looking for a more secure and censorship-resistant platform for their NFTs. Overall, while the potential for Bitcoin NFTs exists, it remains to be seen how popular they will become in the future.”

To buy a Bitcoin NFT, users must first download a Bitcoin-compatible wallet and make it compatible with Ordinals. They can then either create and inscribe their own Ordinal or find an existing owner and purchase one from them.

However, buying Bitcoin NFTs can be a risky process as there is no centralized marketplace or regulation. Buyers and sellers must navigate social media channels and online communities to find each other, and there is always the risk of fraud or scams.

Despite these challenges, the growing popularity of Bitcoin NFTs suggests that they are here to stay and will likely continue to evolve and grow in the coming years.

Intergovernmental expert and best-selling book author Anndy Lian echoed, “Bitcoin NFTs, as unique digital assets created and traded on the Bitcoin blockchain, can certainly be seen as a decentralized innovation.

While the technical limitations of the Bitcoin network mean that the creation and transfer of NFTs may not be as seamless as it is on other blockchain platforms such as Ethereum, the potential for Bitcoin NFTs to be a more decentralized and secure option for creators and collectors is certainly noteworthy.”

Some people in the NFT industry have expressed concerns about the environmental impact of Bitcoin NFTs. Bitcoin is known for its high energy consumption due to its consensus mechanism, which uses a lot of computational power.

Minting NFTs on Bitcoin could therefore contribute to the carbon footprint of the blockchain.

Despite the concerns, the rise of Bitcoin NFTs and the Ordinals protocol has created a new avenue for the NFT industry to explore.

As the industry continues to evolve, we can expect to see more experimentation with different blockchain protocols and the emergence of new use cases for NFTs beyond art and collectibles.

In conclusion, the rise of Bitcoin NFTs and the Ordinals protocol has created a new way of minting and owning unique digital collectibles on the Bitcoin blockchain. While the concept may face some backlash, it also presents an opportunity for the NFT industry to evolve and expand.

 

Source:  https://hackernoon.com/exploring-the-thriving-nft-market-and-the-rise-of-bitcoin-nfts

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