Bithumb Live Files for Bankruptcy

p0x Labs Secures $25M Funding to Propel Manta Network Into Asiap0x Labs, the development team behind Manta Network, has successfully raised $25 million in a Series A funding round that will see the project expand into the Asian market.Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash$500 million valuationThe funding round, led by Polychain Capital and Shanghai-headquartered Qiming Venture Partners, has resulted in a valuation of $500 million for p0x Labs, according to a blog post published by the project on Wednesday. This equity-based investment demonstrates a growing interest in not only the project’s token but also the team behind it.Manta Network aims to leverage zero-knowledge (ZK) technology to address the scalability challenges and privacy concerns prevalent on the Ethereum network. By harnessing zero-knowledge proofs, Manta enables users to verify the authenticity of information without disclosing the underlying data.This approach provides individuals with complete control over their identities while mitigating the risks of surveillance. Consequently, Manta Network is seeking to attract users who have reservations about utilizing DeFi protocols due to the transparent nature of transactions on public blockchain networks.At the recent EthCC event held in Paris, the project unveiled the testnet for its Layer 2 network, known as Manta Pacific. This testnet operates in an environment with low gas fees, fostering cost-effective transactions for users. Manta Pacific is designed to complement the existing Layer 1 solution, Manta Atlantic, which focuses on achieving compliant on-chain privacy.VC supportLuke Pearson, an investor at Polychain Capital, expressed his enthusiasm for Manta Network’s expansion within the Ethereum ecosystem and confirmed Polychain’s continued support through this Series A funding round. Meanwhile, Yi Tang, Principal at Qiming Venture Partners, believes that their contribution will not only help Manta Network penetrate the Asian market but also attract the attention of Web2 brands.With the additional funding, p0x Labs aims to establish a global presence for Manta Network. Kenny Li, a core contributor at Manta Network, emphasized the significance of partnering with one of China’s largest investors to gain a stronger foothold in Asia, particularly China. The team is enthusiastic about the opportunities this collaboration will bring.Industry partnershipsManta Network has already witnessed substantial demand for its offerings, with partnerships with projects such as Arbitrum and Linea resulting in the creation of over 300,000 zero-knowledge soulbound tokens. These tokens enable the verification of on-chain identities without compromising data confidentiality. Additionally, the native Manta Wallet has garnered more than 200,000 installations, and innovative features like email-based notifications have contributed to a collective user base exceeding 1.5 million users.Looking ahead, the newly launched testnet with its plug-and-play functionality is expected to streamline the development process for Manta Network’s ecosystem. Developers will be able to allocate their time and resources more efficiently toward building their core products, driving innovation within the zero-knowledge space.The successful funding round and the launch of the Layer 2 testnet mark significant milestones for Manta Network and p0x Labs. With continued support from prominent investors, Manta Network appears to be setting itself up to unlock the true potential of zero-knowledge technology and drive adoption across various industries.

Bybit Powers Trading Tools via ChatGPT IntegrationDubai-headquartered crypto spot and derivatives trading platform Bybit is set to revolutionize the trading experience for its users with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) through ChatGPT. By leveraging OpenAI’s renowned chatbot, Bybit aims to provide innovative trading tools and metrics to cryptocurrency traders.Photo by Markus Spiske on UnsplashToolsGPTThe newly introduced ToolsGPT by Bybit combines the machine learning capabilities of ChatGPT with the exchange’s market data, offering users a comprehensive set of features. Traders will now have access to technical analysis, price data, and metrics, all generated through AI technology. ToolsGPT will also provide personalized responses to individual inquiries, catering to the unique needs of each trader.Bybit’s AI-powered offering is designed to provide insights and predictions for various cryptocurrency trading scenarios. By analyzing market data for multiple cryptocurrencies, ToolsGPT can identify price trends and utilize technical indicators to forecast future market movements. This service is accessible to traders of all experience levels, allowing them to make more informed decisions based on historical and real-time market data.Bybit announced the availability of the AI-powered trading tools via a blog post published to its website on Thursday and via Twitter. Ben Zhou, CEO of Bybit, emphasized the innovative integration of ChatGPT and its role in empowering traders with advanced tools and insights. By leveraging historical and real-time market data, as well as AI-generated advice, traders can gain a comprehensive understanding of market dynamics to make better-informed decisions.Exchange AI integrationsBybit joins other cryptocurrency exchanges in exploring the potential of ChatGPT. Crypto.com introduced its own user assistant powered by ChatGPT, named Amy, in May. Binance also integrated OpenAI’s chatbot into its Binance Academy platform, providing users with responses sourced from a database of articles and information on the broader Web3 ecosystem.Additionally, OKX has integrated EndoTech’s AI tools to analyze market volatility and identify trading opportunities. This move reflects the growing recognition within the cryptocurrency industry of AI’s potential to enhance trading strategies and improve overall user experiences.Solana Labs also joined the AI revolution by launching a ChatGPT-powered plugin. This plugin enables users to check wallet balances, conduct transfers of Solana-native tokens, and trade non-fungible tokens (NFTs) seamlessly.It’s been a busy couple of months for the company. Last month, Bybit announced the extension of its service offering to include crypto lending. Also in May, it achieved “in principle” approval from the Astana Financial Services Authority (AFSA) in Kazakhstan to trade in the country. In April, it publicized that it had chosen Dubai as the company’s global headquarters. In an effort to further establish roots in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), earlier this month it founded a blockchain scholarship program in conjunction with the American University of Sharjah (AUS).As the cryptocurrency industry continues to evolve, the integration of AI technology holds great promise for enabling more effective and informed trading strategies. That’s something that Bybit Advisor Anndy Lian underscored at the Brand Launchpad Event held in Vietnam last month. With Bybit’s integration of ChatGPT, traders can expect an enhanced trading experience through the use of AI-powered tools and insights.

Polymesh’s APAC Digital Asset Regulation Report Highlights ChallengesThe project team behind Polymesh, an institutional-grade permissioned blockchain built specifically for regulated assets, released a report on digital asset regulation within the Asia Pacific (APAC) region on Tuesday, highlighting several challenges that regulators are attempting to overcome.In a press release, the company outlined that the report covers recent regulatory developments in South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the broader APAC region.Photo by Jéan Béller on UnsplashProgressive regulatory effortsRegulators within the APAC region are currently striving to introduce legislation for digital assets, while several centers within the region are vying to establish themselves as hubs for digital asset-related business.The report explores the individual efforts of regulators in various APAC nations as they work towards crafting regulatory frameworks tailored to their jurisdictions. Those efforts encompass implementation, investigation, and enforcement of legislation in a borderless industry.Regulators in South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong have all embarked on formulating rules for emerging asset categories, albeit using different terminologies such as “digital assets,” “digital payment tokens,” and “virtual assets.” Their focus lies in striking a balance between consumer protection, market integrity, and industry development.Additionally, all three regulators adhere to the principle of “same activity, same regulations, same risks” when it comes to tokenized securities. They argue that regulatory requirements do not significantly differ solely because a security is in tokenized form. Each state has been actively engaged in local and global activities surrounding security tokens, including state involvement in the advancement of security token technology and cross-border transactions.Main findingsThe report’s main findings emphasize that while regulators in the APAC region are making strides in introducing digital asset legislation, the road ahead will not be without challenges.Legislating a cross-border industry poses difficulties that necessitate harmonization to foster a robust and interconnected ecosystem. Digital assets originating in Asia can be traded globally and vice versa. Merely identifying the asset’s place of origin is no longer sufficient.Although the report delves into the efforts of individual regulators, it emphasizes the need for long-term collaboration to establish a unified vision and practical implementation of regulations for this borderless phenomenon.Regulatory challengesThe regulatory challenges faced by South Korea, Singapore, and Hong Kong in driving the growth of digital assets in the APAC region are multifaceted. They include the intricacies of legislating an inherently cross-border industry. In turn, that can lead to the potential violation of legislation from other jurisdictions.The lack of harmonization among different jurisdictions, and variations in regulatory approaches among the three regulators are likely to be problematic. Furthermore, there are push-pull dynamics between the industry and regulators, with even the regulators themselves not always in agreement.However, despite these challenges, all three regulators have initiated the formulation of rules for new asset categories, with a strong emphasis on safeguarding consumer interests, maintaining market integrity, and fostering industry development.