Technology – Startup Fortune https://startupfortune.com Startup News, Guides, Training and Entrepreneur Community Forum Wed, 22 May 2024 13:22:49 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.3 https://startupfortune.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/ICON.png Technology – Startup Fortune https://startupfortune.com 32 32 MemeFi Club: ‘Solving’ Web3 Gaming with Social Tech https://startupfortune.com/memefi-club-solving-web3-gaming-with-social-tech/ https://startupfortune.com/memefi-club-solving-web3-gaming-with-social-tech/#respond Wed, 22 May 2024 13:22:49 +0000 https://startupfortune.com/?p=4637 The last crypto bull market has left GameFi at a cliffhanger — the older experimental apps have been losing users and lost most of their appeal, while the new ones, more traditional gaming-like, did not gain much traction. The ending felt a bit anticlimactic, to say the least. 

Now that a few older narratives, such as memes and SocialFi, have become hot again during what seems like a new crypto mania, we see the outline of where GameFi might rediscover itself in MemeFi, an idle gaming project getting at the heart of the question: “Why the hell do you need crypto in games anyway?

This is where MemeFi comes in, a new idle gaming ecosystem that has attracted more than 6.5 million users in its Web2 native Telegram game and is releasing some of the most peculiar Web3 apps.

Financializing Gaming

GameFi has been a bit of a trainwreck since the very start. Why build games around crypto? If you go beyond adding a simple payment method via crypto, the obvious answer is to reward users. This seems like a faulty one because it is: if you need to pay users to play your game, you’d better not launch it at all.

The answer provided by MemeFi is to treat financials as if an element of the game, similarly to how the economy is seamlessly integrated into EVE Online. Money is gameplay.

MemeFi Web3 Game

MemeFi takes idle gaming and builds a competitive crypto economy around it. Players engage in boss fights, reaping rewards for their successes and spending their energy in case of failures. Their daily raiding activity defines their performance and profitability.

What makes this system interesting is the system of “keys”, similar to friend.tech. Players’ rewards are partly distributed to their keyholders in the form of keys: this means you do not actually have to be a crypto whale to win lots of rewards — just find the right keys.

This creates a competitive environment, where players seek to get rewards via keys, with a variety of economically optimal states. The whole process is “spiced up” with loads of social features and a quadratic bonding curve that governs key prices.

Users & Telegram

The MemeFi ecosystem features another app from the sphere of idle gaming. The MemeFi Coin Telegram Clicker has galvanized an audience of a whopping 6.5 million players, with 1.5 million daily active users.

The immense potential of clicker apps was first shown by Notcoin, a simple idle gain that has attracted millions of users. Players tap regularly and collect virtual Notcoins, which they expected to materialize and rightfully so — $NOT has been listed on May 16 on top crypto exchanges. A simple free activity turned out to be extremely lucrative for some of the players.

The engagement of MemeFi Coin users is monetized via an Ad Network, which, contrary to what the name suggests, is rather a single source of highly active traffic channeled through incentivized activities in the app.

This harmonic advertising ecosystem may very well be craving crypto. For this reason, MemeFi is seeking to integrate crypto solutions into the app, leveraging the social power of Telegram.

Building on Linea

The prospects of both the Telegram app and its Web3 counterpart seem to have been realized by Linea, a layer 2 blockchain for Ethereum closely associated with Consensys. The project backed by Metamask founders saw value in the MemeFi ecosystem early on, suggesting there’s a partnership on their social media.

The support of Linea may enable something a lot of blockchain developers dream about — a mass conversion of Web2 users to Web3 through a real product.

At the same time, the Web3 app seems to be an ideal resort for Web3 natives, who are degening their ways to the top of the leaderboard, hoarding keys and outcompeting each other on a financial PvP battle arena.

MemeFi has released at a very peculiar moment, mixing together the hottest narratives of today’s crypto: memes and Social Tech. And while the hype train is still there, it is indeed a novel way to do crypto in gaming that might actually work.

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Silence Laboratories Brings MPC Support for MetaMask Accounts Through Snaps to Make Crypto Accounts More Secure https://startupfortune.com/silence-laboratories-brings-mpc-support-for-metamask-accounts-through-snaps-to-make-crypto-accounts-more-secure/ https://startupfortune.com/silence-laboratories-brings-mpc-support-for-metamask-accounts-through-snaps-to-make-crypto-accounts-more-secure/#respond Fri, 23 Feb 2024 04:13:19 +0000 https://startupfortune.com/?p=4453 There’s no getting around it, crypto adoption is on the rise. Whether attributable to bitcoin ETF approvals, the hype around game-fi, the Ordinals craze, institutional inflows, or all of the above, there is a growing sense that a new era has dawned. Mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins – as well as the tech powering them – makes a mockery of any lingering claims that the industry is “niche.”

Despite this shifting outlook, security concerns remain an obvious obstacle to crypto market participation. Security.org’s recent Cryptocurrency Adoption and Sentiment Report, which gauges insights from 1,500 Americans, shows respondents fear losing access to their wallets, falling victim to cyber-attacks, and being wronged by an exchange platform. In 2023 alone, over $3 billion was lost in crypto hacks, scams, and exploits.

As new threats emerge, innovative companies tackle difficult challenges ranging from infrastructure security to more niche customer-centric applications. For example, Silence Laboratories and its team of talented cybersecurity and cryptography experts are laser-focused on bringing security to MetaMask accounts, the world’s most popular wallet extension with over 30 million monthly active users and unfortunately, one that still carries a steep learning curve for new users. 

Concerns about security risks associated with crypto, and the need for enhanced security solutions that are also user-friendly, are not unfounded. Although digital assets stolen through hacking fell by more than 50% last year, the number of individual hacks rose. In one perpetrated by cybercriminals linked to North Korea, wallet providers were robbed of $127 million. As crypto adoption grows, we must educate users about implementing robust security measures to ensure they don’t become another statistic.

Silent Shard Snap Brings 2FA-Like Experience to MetaMask

Coincidently, MetaMask itself noted in an article last year, “2FA is a great feature to expect from any website using traditional authentication, but is a little more complicated for a self-custodial (or non-custodial) crypto wallet like MetaMask.”

More complicated, yes – but not impossible, it turns out. A year after that article was published, Silence Laboratories has launched Silent Shard Snap, their wallet add-on that allows for distributed self-custody, meaning ownership of private keys is spread across two user-controlled devices: namely, the user’s browser and phone. Interested users can download and explore the product now, marking a significant milestone for Silence Laboratories. 

Silent Shard Snap is powered by Multi-Party Computation (MPC) technology and eliminates the single point of failure associated with MetaMask and other self-custody wallet solutions. Even if a hacker were to find your private key, they could not move any funds without your smartphone. Because neither MetaMask nor Silent Shard Snap stores private keys, the 2FA-like solution ensures the wallet experience remains fully self-custodial.

2FA has become a common means of safeguarding banking, social media, and email accounts.. With Silent Shard Snap, the familiar push-based 2FA model is introduced to the MetaMask interaction process, bringing slick Web2 UX to Web3. With every transaction initiated on the wallet sent to their device for confirmation, MetaMask users gain complete peace of mind.

Innovations like Silent Shard Snap are what the industry needs to reassure new crypto users that they won’t lose their funds. Its arrival on an industry leader like MetaMask is a major step forward, offering the peace of mind consumers need to embrace crypto with open arms.

Why Distributed Self-Custody is a Necessity 

Those unfamiliar with the world of crypto may read the aforementioned reports and simply think they are powerless to prevent sophisticated hackers from emptying their accounts. In truth, most of the funds stolen come from exploits of unsafe DeFi and CeFi protocols, with the occasional centralized exchange failure. It’s analogous to clever hackers exploiting vulnerabilities in card processing and inter-bank transfer systems in Web2. 

When a bank falls victim to a hack or robbery, customers’ funds are typically protected by insurance. For the most part, this isn’t the case in crypto – so the fears of industry newcomers are understandable as the stakes are extremely high. 

The lack of intermediaries, however, can be a blessing. Users are compelled to follow best practices to protect their investments, which generally means using a self-custody wallet. This is where the phrase Not Your Keys, Not Your Crypto comes from: if you retain possession of your private keys, you alone can access the funds in your account. It’s like having the only key to an impenetrable bank vault.

Self-custody wallets are considered the best of the best in terms of security. So long as you don’t expose your private keys to the internet (recording them in a Google doc, for example, or storing them in a desktop file), and you are careful with what protocols and open-source software you interact with, nobody can gain unauthorized access to your account. 

It’s important to recognize that although users maintain control over their keys in a standard Self-Custody model, the potential for a single point of failure still exists. This vulnerability arises from the possibility of keys being stolen or users being tricked into entering their seed phrases through phishing attempts, a risk that impacts all wallets. The appeal of Distributed Self-Custody stems from its robust structure that eliminates any single point of failure, courtesy of MPC (Multi-Party Computation) and akin technologies, ensuring users retain unparalleled control and empowerment.

Companies like Silence Laboratories and MetaMask are at the forefront of creating simple yet effective user experiences that remove much of the burden and learning curve of distributed self-custody. With the help of these entities and others, the next wave of crypto adoption will benefit from superior security, improved UX, and an altogether happier ecosystem.

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Why Retail Must Embrace Spatial Computing Sooner Rather Than Later https://startupfortune.com/why-retail-must-embrace-spatial-computing-sooner-rather-than-later/ https://startupfortune.com/why-retail-must-embrace-spatial-computing-sooner-rather-than-later/#respond Thu, 15 Feb 2024 06:49:37 +0000 https://startupfortune.com/?p=4422 The retail sector has come a long way since enterprising Ancient Greeks first developed merchant markets to sell their wares. From bustling bazaars to dependable mom-and-pop stores and international e-commerce giants offering guaranteed Next Day Delivery, retail has become one of the world’s leading markets. According to Statista, the global industry generated sales of over $27 trillion in 2022, with the figure set to rise to around $32.8 trillion by 2026. TLDR: humans love spending money.

Clearly, retail did not get to this position by standing still. It evolved thanks to the ingenuity of forward-looking merchants and entrepreneurs, propelled on the unstoppable wave of technological progress. Today, as it was in the past, the retail world relies on the integration of cutting-edge technologies to survive and thrive.

It’s easy to think that we’ve reached the end of the road: that technological advancements have brought us to this point, and we’re now reaping the rewards of peak efficiency. Alas, there’s always another hurdle, another milestone, another level to be unlocked. In the recent past, retail has had cloud migration, contactless payments, and self-checkout. Today, the sector is contemplating nothing less than a revolution through the integration of Extended Reality (XR), IoT, deep learning, and spatial computing. The retail industry of the future is coming into sharp focus.

A Vision of Retail’s Future

It’s no exaggeration to say that one cutting-edge technology, spatial computing, is poised to transform retail in ways few people could scarcely conceive. 

Spatial computing, for the uninitiated, allows digital objects to interact seamlessly with the physical world. The term has gained significant traction of late, particularly due to the release of Apple’s $3,500 Vision Pro headset. That device, which Apple boss Tim Cook cites as a game-changer, will probably do more for the visibility of spatial computing than anything else due to the tech behemoth’s brand recognition and loyal customer base.

Projected to reach a value of $620 billion by 2032, spatial computing promises to forever alter how we live, work and play. In the context of brick-and-mortar retail, though, it brings very particular benefits.

One of the defining features of spatial computing is its ability to create photorealistic 3D models of products and environments, a capability that allows customers to physically interact with virtual objects. Extended Reality tech provides a welcome sense of scale and immersion that traditional online shopping simply cannot match. Even physical shopping is inferior by comparison.

The usage of Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR) in the context of retail enables customers to experience products in an extremely memorable way, whether they’re shopping online or in a physical space. Imagine, for instance, having the ability to “try on” clothing or jewelry without needing to visit a bricks-and-mortar venue. Or being able to scrutinize a lifelike sportscar from every angle without visiting the showroom. Or seeing how a piece of furniture looks in your living room without getting the item delivered and hauled through the front door.

Spatial computing can also gamify the shopping experience, making the experience more rewarding. For example, retailers could choose to offer a prize to customers who spend the most time browsing in their flagship store, with wearable tech making the process of determining a winner easy. In-store quizzes, treasure hunts, and mini-games can also be facilitated with XR tech.

These are just some examples. In truth, spatial computing can enhance the customer experience in myriad ways: with digital shopping assistants, the introduction of streamlined checkout processes, the implementation of smart parking guidance systems, efficiencies in staff training, improved point-of-sale merchandising, enhanced demand forecasting and inventory management. And on and on.

The Posemesh: A Proving Ground for Retail Evolution

These are not hypothetical scenarios: spatial computing is already being actively used by tens of thousands of retailers, and many more are thinking about adopting it. Pilot schemes, meanwhile, are in progress everywhere.

At the center of this movement is the posemesh, a decentralized spatial computing protocol developed by Auki Labs. Ambitiously designed to onboard the next 100 billion people, devices, and AI, the posemesh is a foundational layer upon which developers can build and launch their own spatial computing applications.

Although Auki Labs have grand visions for the future of the posemesh, much of the current focus, for the reasons stated above, is to bring the posemesh to the retail sector – and vice versa. Indeed, Convergent is one of the leading applications developed by Auki Labs using this protocol. It’s a posemesh-powered augmented reality (AR) application that reduces training costs and simplifies task management in large retail stores.

Convergent offers a range of features tailored for retailers. One key feature is a detailed, searchable map that extends down to individual items on a shelf, enabling staff to quickly find what they’re looking for. It also presents the ability to superimpose spatial digital notes using AR throughout the store. This permits the assignment and tracking of tasks, helping guide employees with in-app navigation and saving management time. In essence, Convergent enhances workplace efficiency and communication.

A project two years in the making, the posemesh has already made waves in retail, with pilot programs underway in some of the world’s largest retail chains. Meanwhile, its implementation in the Plaza Premium Lounge at Hong Kong International Airport was a great showcase of its potential. 

With over 300 decentralized physical infrastructure (dePIN) operators already onboarded and $15 million raised from tech investors, the posemesh and technologies like it are offering advancements that retailers simply cannot afford to ignore.

One can easily imagine stubborn retailers losing ground to competitors by failing to embrace spatial computing, the same way merchants who refused to offer card payments did in the recent past.

The retail industry stands at a crossroads. Soon, embracing spatial computing will no longer be an option but a necessity. The integration of technologies like AR, VR, and MR into retail operations offers an unparalleled opportunity to enhance customer experiences, improve operational efficiency, and stay ahead of the curve in highly competitive markets. Those who move with the times will lead the charge in the coming era of dizzying retail innovation.

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Crypto Startup Eesee Raises $2.85 Million for Innovative Gamified Seller Solutions https://startupfortune.com/crypto-startup-eesee-raises-2-85-million-for-innovative-gamified-seller-solutions/ https://startupfortune.com/crypto-startup-eesee-raises-2-85-million-for-innovative-gamified-seller-solutions/#respond Wed, 10 Jan 2024 14:29:48 +0000 https://startupfortune.com/?p=4384 eesee, an innovative one-stop liquidity solution and gamified marketplace for sellers, has announced the successful closing of its $2.85 million fundraise. The raise included a $1.1 million seed round and a $1.75 million private round, with participation by SevenX Ventures, Maven Capital, MetaBros, Contango Digital Assets, BasementDAO, and more. The company also announced partnerships out of the gate that include Ape Terminal, ApeCoin, Polygon, and Chainlink.

Currently, no gamified digital asset marketplaces allow sellers to sell digital assets creatively while eliminating most of the buy-side friction currently seen in the industry. The only way to tap into an NFT community is by buying an asset, a massive barrier for new entrants who are unable to afford the floor price of an NFT.

With eesee, sellers can create a customized gamified drop, such as a decentralized onchain raffle, to sell effectively sell an asset above the current floor price. For buyers, raffles can include action-based entries, where participation in a raffle is determined by completing certain tasks. Similar to airdrop incentives, these campaigns offer the possibility of being rewarded with assets for little to no money. Losers of raffles will also be rewarded with points and airdrop opportunities to ensure mutual incentives across the platform.

Vova Sadkov, Founder and CEO of eesee explains, “We see this as a massive opportunity to tap into the next generation of digital asset participants interested in owning and participating in NFTs, tokens, and RWAs. Our gamified approach creates a transparent and legitimate liquidity solution wrapped around various campaigns that align with the ethos of the crypto industry. New entrants, avid collectors, and even speculators can all benefit from the platform.”

Murtaza Bohari at Maven Capital says, “eesee is attractive because it taps into two of the fastest growing segments of the industry, NFTFi and SocialFi. The potential of the marketplace goes far beyond a transactional level into a massive community-building opportunity. The use of built-in chats and discission boards on essee is an example. In theory, the logic behind the platform could eventually apply to any asset, not just digital, that is in demand.”

The platform has partnered with Chainlink to use Chainlink VRF to officially select winners in each campaign. Additionally, in October 2023, ApeCoin DAO approved a partnership that will drive cross-collaboration between each respective community. To date, eesee’s testnet has attracted over 262,309 registrants with an average wallet age of one year. Over the last 90 days, the wallets have had 858,000 transactions worth over $174 million, implying an experienced user base to date.

The company’s native token, $ESE, is scheduled to be launched in an upcoming TGE in Q1.

eesee is a one-stop liquidity solution for sellers, with a fun and safe raffle system at an affordable cost. The community-centered platform is tailored for digital assets, tokens and RWAs and focuses on a win-win value proposition. Sellers can create raffles to sell entries to interested buyers. Buyers can buy as much as they like, helping to increase their chances of winning. After the pool is sold out, a raffle determines the winner. Losers will be rewarded with points for contributing to a pool which will lead to future rewards.

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Ringfence’s $1.5 Million Funding Paves the Way for Recognizing and Empowering AI-Generated Content Creators https://startupfortune.com/ringfences-1-5-million-funding-paves-the-way-for-recognizing-and-empowering-ai-generated-content-creators/ https://startupfortune.com/ringfences-1-5-million-funding-paves-the-way-for-recognizing-and-empowering-ai-generated-content-creators/#respond Tue, 09 Jan 2024 13:00:16 +0000 https://startupfortune.com/?p=4380 Ringfence, the first generative AI platform to ensure creators are paid for the use of their original work within AI-generated content (AIGC), has announced the successful closing of its $1.5 million seed round. The round was led by Rarestone Capital and Morningstar Ventures with participation from Spark Digital Capital, Curiosity Capital, Noir Ventures and other leading funds and angel investors.

Ringfence is the first platform dedicated to ensuring Web3 and Generative AI work in the favor of creators. Currently, courts are struggling with how to apply intellectual property laws to generative AI. Ringfence provides the infrastructure for creators to store and protect various media including photos, images, videos, documents, and music. Creators who want to monetize their content can verify ownership and authorize AI to use their files to create new AIGC. Additionally, Ringfence allows creators to mint their AIGC on any EVM-compatible chain using LayerZero’s OFT standard, allowing fungible tokens to be transferred across multiple blockchains without asset wrapping, middlechains, or liquidity pools.

Ringfence Founder Whitney Gibbs says, “As Web3 and AI integration advances, it is estimated to evolve into a  trillion-dollar market opportunity that remains relatively nascent in terms of attribution and digital provenance. We believe creators should decide how and when AI uses their work, and they should always be fairly compensated when it does. Our team is compelled to solve this with a tangible, scalable, and convenient solution that will ultimately be symbiotic in the growth of AIGC.”

Rarestone Capital Founder Charles Read says, “We are excited to tackle one of the toughest challenges in the market and support the future of Web3 creators and AI. Ringfence will be critical to ensure creative and monetary power always remains with creators, with the flexibility to decide how, when, and where to use their content.”

Ringfence empowers creators with access to features such as free unlimited cloud storage, content ownership verification to establish digital provenance, and perpetual compensation anytime AI uses their content for model training. Additionally, creators can access Ringfence’s powerful AI engines to create a variety of content mediums and use Ringfence to tokenize their art without ever leaving the platform.

Ringfence plans to release its beta in Q1 2024. Creators can register for the waitlist at ringfence.ai.

Ringfence is the first generative AI platform to ensure creators are paid every time their original artwork is used to create AI-generated content (AIGC). The platform enables creators to store photos, images, videos, documents and music, protecting all of their content from unwanted use by AI. If a Ringfence Creator decides they would like to monetize their content, they can easily verify ownership and authorize AI to use their files to create new AIGC. Ringfence also allows creators to mint their AIGC content on any chain, through the LayerZero protocol.

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How Web3 Projects Can Leverage Market Research for Success https://startupfortune.com/how-web3-projects-can-leverage-market-research-for-success/ https://startupfortune.com/how-web3-projects-can-leverage-market-research-for-success/#respond Tue, 22 Aug 2023 12:55:29 +0000 https://startupfortune.com/?p=4356 For any new technology, thorough market research is crucial to understand users, identify opportunities, and build effective products. This is especially true for innovative web3 projects entering uncharted territory. Despite great potential, many web3 projects fail due to misguided assumptions and lack of product-market fit. With proper research, web3 projects can gain invaluable insights, de-risk decisions, and set themselves up for success.

The Importance of Market Research for Web3 Projects

Market research provides web3 projects with invaluable customer and market insights that can inform strategic decisions across all stages of the product lifecycle. Conducting research enables web3 projects to gain a deeper understanding of their target users including their interests, concerns, and product requirements. It identifies market gaps, growth areas, and new use cases to pursue. Research highlights customer segments to target and timely trends to capitalize on. 

Analysis through research allows web3 projects to differentiate themselves and provide unique value. Farrukh Shukurov, a CEO of Releven, a market research firm specializing in providing data-driven insights to web3 and blcokchain startups, said: “User-centric design, positioning, and messaging can all be improved through market insights.” This highlights how research informs core product decisions and positioning. Shukurov adds that research also aids in “segmenting users, choosing distribution channels, and sustaining competitive advantage.” He also notes that “most importantly, market feedback provides validation before allocating significant resources. Research should be an ongoing practice for enhancing product-market fit.” This validation is key for web3 projects to avoid costly missteps.

Testing concepts and prototypes with target users validates product-market fit and averts costly mismatches. Ongoing research enables tracking market shifts so products and strategies can pivot accordingly, minimizing disruptive impacts of surprises. In the dynamic web3 landscape, assumptions can be dangerous. Research provides the hard data and evidence needed to make decisions with conviction. 

Getting Inside the Minds of Target Users

The first step for any web3 project should be developing an intimate understanding of its target users. Their interests, concerns, motivations and unmet needs should guide product decisions. Surveys can gauge user sentiments at scale, while interviews and focus groups reveal deeper qualitative insights. For example, a gaming project could conduct focus groups with gamers to identify desired features and skepticism around blockchain adoption. Such research establishes user personas and use cases to inform product requirements.

Exploring the Competitive Landscape

While the web3 space appears wide open, competition still exists. Projects should thoroughly analyze direct and indirect competitors, substitutes, and industry best practices. This benchmarking helps carve out a unique positioning and value proposition. For instance, an NFT marketplace can compare transaction fees, product mix, and creator support across major platforms to find ways to differentiate. Ongoing competitive research also highlights new players entering the space.

Sizing Up the Market Opportunity

To secure funding and scale, web3 projects need a sizable addressable market. Estimating market size and growth by analyzing adoption metrics and trends is crucial. A digital payments project may model market share growth by studying web3 awareness and penetration by demographic. This quantifies the revenue potential to investors. Advanced projects can even survey high-potential customer segments to gauge their purchase intent if the product launched.

Validating Concepts and Pivoting Properly

Many web3 projects waste months building products that users don’t want. Cheaper and faster concept validation through research can prevent this. Testing a concept video or prototype with target users identifies flawed assumptions early. Projects should also leverage research to guide data-driven product pivots, rather than relying on intuition. For example, an NFT project may pivot to a new niche based on survey feedback indicating waning interest in their initial category.

Securing Buy-in for Research Initiatives

To leverage research fully, internal buy-in across the organization is vital. Research leaders should widely share findings and educate colleagues on how insights will guide decisions. They should surface key data highlighting market opportunities in presentations to leadership and stakeholders. Obtaining budget for ongoing research and external partners demonstrates commitment. Within smaller startups, founders may need to spearhead research efforts themselves initially.

Sustaining a Competitive Edge with Ongoing Research

In dynamic markets like web3, research cannot be a one-time effort. Regular check-ins with target users, re-evaluation of competitors, and tracking market trends sustains competitive advantage. Annual or biannual surveys and interviews, audits of competitor products every 6 months, and constant data scanning form a rigorous market research rhythm. Appointing a Head of Market Research role institutionalizes this.

Summary and Key Takeaways

For web3 projects, leveraging market research properly unlocks many benefits:

  • Developing intimate understanding of target users’ needs and wants
  • Discovering market gaps, growth opportunities and areas to differentiate
  • Quantifying addressable market size to estimate revenue potential
  • Validating product concepts quickly to avoid missteps
  • Informing data-driven product pivot decisions
  • Securing internal buy-in by sharing insights across the organization
  • Sustaining competitive edge with ongoing competitor and market monitoring

In summary, thorough market research helps web3 projects identify the right product-market fit, make strategic decisions with confidence, and continually adapt to dynamic market conditions. It provides validation before committing significant resources to product builds. For long-term success, research must be embraced both pre-launch and on an ongoing basis.

The key takeaway is that assumptions can sink web3 projects, while research provides the insights needed to de-risk decisions. With proper user, competitor and market research, web3 projects give themselves the highest probability of leveraging web3’s immense potential and achieving product-market fit, funding, and scale.

Conclusion

For web3 projects, proper market research moves ideas from assumptions to insights, from concepts to validated products, and from potential success to probable success. Projects that continuously research users, competitors, opportunities, and market dynamics can thrive even in uncertainty. In contrast, those relying on gut instinct risk disappointing failures. Research reveals what target users want, how to provide unique value, and where market gaps exist. The message for web3 projects is clear: embrace research, both before launch and on an ongoing basis. Success largely depends on it.

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Nova-Dox NFT Staking Platform Is Deploying Next-Generation Software To Improve Rewards for Users https://startupfortune.com/nova-dox-nft-staking-platform-is-deploying-next-generation-software-to-improve-rewards-for-users/ https://startupfortune.com/nova-dox-nft-staking-platform-is-deploying-next-generation-software-to-improve-rewards-for-users/#respond Tue, 23 May 2023 14:01:22 +0000 https://startupfortune.com/?p=4338 A report on Decrypt revealed that the NFT market generated over $24 billion worth of organic trading volume in 2022. In a similar report, Markets and Markets projects that it will grow from its value of $3 billion in 2022 to over $13 billion by 2027 at a compound annual growth rate of 35%. With the growing potential of non-fungible tokens, many projects have been jostling for a chunk of the market share. However, a few projects like Nove-Dox are out to make users earn more money while providing animal protection services. According to the founder and CEO of Nova-Dox, George Vesters, he aims to keep all dogs out of cages and give them the luxury they deserve.

More Details About Nova-Dox

The project is a revolutionary and ingenious NFT staking ecosystem that integrates a self-developed $ETH trading software designed to help NFT holders earn more rewards. The rewards are exclusively in $USDT, and are strictly shared on the basis of the length of time you are willing to ‘lock’  the NFT. You can earn between 4-50% and still keep your non-fungible token. Additionally, 10% of all generated profits are earmarked for building shelters for stray dogs.

During the 2022 market crash, the Nova-Dox software generated massive profits despite the underlying assets’ value falling by 65%. You can only imagine the potential of the software during a market boom. The team has already launched the first 444 staking NFTs that enable holders to receive 10% higher vesting rewards (up to 55%) when they choose a 24-month staking period. Another good selling point for the Nova-Dox NFT staking platform is that it covers all customer fees and has no hidden charges or surprises. Once the maturity period has been attained, holders will still retain ownership of their NFTs. Although the Nova-Dox software does not guarantee the asset’s value, any value will be added to the staking rewards. Since the rewards are not dependent on rarity, the supply will be surplus. Although the first early investor collector has been completely sold out, the second round of early investor NFTs is still available on OpenSea. Those NFTs are not based on a staking basis. They have a direct link with the real performance of Nova-Dox with an even higher potential.

Partnership with Deribit

The Nova-Dox team recently announced a partnership with Deribit, the dominant crypto options exchange on the planet. This partnership further solidifies Nova-Dox’s stand as a top NFT staking platform. It allows it to leverage Deribit’s cash flow, security, and other features to provide top-quality services to users. Deribit handles an estimated $1 billion worth of transactions every 24 hours. Therefore, the exchange is capable of ensuring the safety of the funds of Nova-Dox users.

According to Nelle Jan Van Veen, the CTO of Nova-Dox, the security of users and the platform is their topmost priority. This is why they have allowed Bitcounts, a renowned third-party auditor, to safeguard all fiat and NFT assets on the platform. The team also deploys a three-signature system where all transacting parties must give their permission on all withdrawals.

Conclusion

The innovative approach of Nova-Dox to revolutionize NFT staking is highly commendable, and the prospect is undoubtedly great. Kindly check out the newest NFT collection and get started on your journey to earn 4-50% USDT in rewards.  

Tagged with: Nelle Jan Van Veen, George Vesters, Deribit, Nova-Dox, NFT Staking Platform,NFT Staking

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Stabolut’s USB Stablecoin Emerges as a Solution to UST Collapse: Fully Decentralized, Dollar-Pegged Stablecoin https://startupfortune.com/staboluts-usdb-stablecoin-emerges-as-a-solution-to-ust-collapse-fully-decentralized-dollar-pegged-stablecoin/ https://startupfortune.com/staboluts-usdb-stablecoin-emerges-as-a-solution-to-ust-collapse-fully-decentralized-dollar-pegged-stablecoin/#respond Fri, 31 Mar 2023 05:40:19 +0000 https://startupfortune.com/?p=4317 Stabolut has announced the launch of a new Bitcoin-backed stablecoin called USB, which claims to be fully decentralized, dollar-pegged, and reliable. The stablecoin uses a unique approach to retain its peg by shorting Bitcoin through an inverse perpetual swap. Last year, the Luna Foundation Guard’s proposed cryptocurrency reserve to guard against a collapse of the UST stablecoin came in a little too late to guard against the past week’s market turmoil. As a result, officials found themselves scrambling to improvise solutions to maintain the dollar peg, offering cryptocurrency loans and reportedly scrambling to line up fresh capital to back the project. The implosion of UST, the largest algorithmic stablecoin, sent shockwaves through the crypto market and gave Stabolut’s Chief Technology Officer, Julian Beltran, the idea to build USB. 

He believes there’s clear market demand for a reliable stablecoin choice, given the collapse of UST and the recent instability caused by the de-pegging of USDC. Stabolut’s new Bitcoin-backed stablecoin, USB, aims to operate without a banking system and protect itself from regulatory crackdowns. It will power cross-chain transactions and work with Bitcoin-compatible wallets and other blockchain services. Stabolut claims to be backed by the founders of Dextools.io. The text also mentions that this month, USDC from Circle lost its peg due to the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.

Stabolut has launched a fully decentralized, dollar-pegged stablecoin called USB. The stablecoin operates without a banking system and aims to protect itself from regulatory crackdowns. It is backed by shorting Bitcoin via a Bitcoin inverse perpetual swap and eliminates the need for bank accounts. USB will power cross-chain transactions and work with Bitcoin-compatible wallets and other blockchain services. Stabolut is the issuer of the stablecoin and is building a complete ecosystem for payments around the globe. USB aims to solve the issues and concerns other stablecoins have, and its goal is to become one of the most widely used stablecoins.

Stablecoins offer an alternative to traditional banking, that are made for cryptocurrency exchanges. The industry heavily relies on banks for customer deposits, making stablecoins vulnerable to various banking issues. Stablecoins, pegged to fiat currencies or other assets, unlock the necessary capabilities for the industry to function.

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes points out that the industry needs stablecoins to mitigate counterparty risks, enhance user privacy, and grow beyond the limitations of fiat backed stablecoins. The recent collapses of three major crypto-friendly banks caused significant damage to the digital asset market, with the dollar-pegged stablecoin USDC losing 10% of its value and Bitcoin experiencing significant withdrawals. However, the market has since recovered, with Bitcoin surpassing the $29K price level. The Federal Reserve, treasury department, and FDIC have also assured depositors that they will have access to their funds.

StartupFortune reached out to Stabolut for comment about USB’s approach to building a resilient and private stablecoin. This is what Julian Beltran, co-founder and CTO had to say:

Q: When did Stabolut start to work on USB?

A: The development of USB began in October of last year when developing the crypto wallet, stablecoin design, and pegging mechanism. Stabolut anticipates having a private beta shortly and a public beta by June 2023.

Q: What is your go to market strategy, are you focused on attracting Bitcoin holders?

A: Our go-to-market strategy is to target the broader crypto community, including both Bitcoin holders and holders of other cryptocurrencies. Our aim is to provide a stablecoin that can be used as a store of value and a medium of exchange within the crypto ecosystem, and we believe that USB’s unique features and benefits will appeal to a wide range of users. Additionally, we plan to partner with key players in the industry, such as exchanges and wallets, to increase the availability and adoption of USB.

Q: Do anticipate a lot of users from all over?

A: Since USB is a decentralized stablecoin that is not tied to any specific region or jurisdiction, it has the potential to attract users from all over the world who are interested in using a stablecoin that is censorship-resistant and not subject to the same counterparty risks as fiat-backed stablecoins.

Q: How have you designed your stablecoin to scale?

A: USB is designed to scale through a combination of technical and market-making mechanisms. Technically, USB is built on the Polygon network, which offers fast and low-cost transactions, making it scalable for a large user base. Additionally, USB uses a unique pegging mechanism that involves shorting Bitcoin using a Bitcoin inverse perpetual swap, which allows for efficient market making and arbitrage to maintain the peg. This mechanism ensures that USB is always backed by assets and remains stable at the US dollar value, even during periods of high volatility in the cryptocurrency market. Overall, these technical and market-making mechanisms allow USB to scale and maintain stability, providing a reliable and efficient stablecoin option for users.

USB will work with Bitcoin compatible wallets, protocols, and other blockchain services. Keep your eye on the Stabolut project, in its early stages.

Tagged with: Stabolut, USB, Arthur Hayes, Julian Beltran

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Layer One X Makes Crypto History with Decentralized Cross-Chain Transfer of Assets https://startupfortune.com/layer-one-x-makes-crypto-history-with-decentralized-cross-chain-transfer-of-assets/ https://startupfortune.com/layer-one-x-makes-crypto-history-with-decentralized-cross-chain-transfer-of-assets/#respond Sat, 18 Mar 2023 14:33:22 +0000 https://startupfortune.com/?p=4309 On Friday, March 3, 2023, Layer One X—a revolutionary layer 1 blockchain project—made crypto history by achieving decentralized cross-chain transfer of assets. Prior to this date, blockchain networks had not been able to achieve cross-chain interoperability between  incompatible networks, until Layer One X.  Scheduled for launch on the mainnet in August 2023, Layer One X enables interoperability between EVM (Ethereum Virtual Machine) and non-EVM chains. 

Layer One X is focussed on solving the blockchain quartet—interoperability, security, scalability, and decentralization—and is working to deliver these core features without compromising integrity. The Layer One X team will release a set of NFTs to commemorate and immortalize this historic achievement in the blockchain space. Currently, a private sale round is on and will end on Friday, March 31, 2023. 

Decentralized Cross-Chain Transfer of Assets 

One of the many unique advantages of decentralized cross-chain asset transfer is the elimination of bridges, an expensive and insecure alternative. As the name implies, crypto bridges connect multiple blockchains, allowing developers and users to tap resources from other networks. Until now an essential tool, bridges are vulnerable to attacks. The infamous Ronin and Wormhole hacks, accounting for over 80% of the $1.4 billion funds stolen from bridges in 2022 alone, are substantial proof of the vulnerability of bridges. 

Layer One X’s decentralized interoperability innovation is a game-changer in the industry. First, it has the potential to eliminate the need for bridges, offering developers and end-users scalable, super-secure, faster, and cheaper cross-chain asset transfers. 

Secondly, cross-chain interoperability will open opportunities for developers to create more connected applications, increasing users’ asset choice pool. Finally, Layer One X’s groundbreaking work will unlock avenues for collaborations, creating an interoperable blockchain ecosystem where users can connect, transact, and communicate with other blockchain networks. 

Layer One X introduces higher scalability, speed, and interoperability levels. And will widen the scope for the influx of sustainable business models and new revenue streams for the industry. 

We are excited for the opportunity this presents to allow projects and developers to build asynchronous features on blockchains through a decentralized source of truth,” Kevin Coutinho, founder of Layer One X, had this to say about this innovative cross-chain interoperability. 

A Catalyst for Global Blockchain Adoption 

Layer One X is committed to accelerating blockchain adoption globally, with the introduction of cross-chain decentralized interoperability. By offering the exchange of assets between EVM networks like Binance Smart Chain (BSC), Ethereum, and Polygon and non-EVM chains like Solana. Layer One X is also built to deliver scalability, speed, and security. These core features will directly heighten blockchain adoption on a global scale. 

Kevin Coutinho and his team are working to deliver over 100,000 transactions per second (TPS) and can utilize the world’s 8.6 billion mobile devices to enable micro-validation. This unprecedented consensus mechanism will ensure faster confirmations and higher throughputs. And users will earn rewards based on their contribution to the network. 

We are now focused on bringing generic messaging and event-based interoperability with the same virtual machine in the coming few months that will open markets such as decentralized identification and multi-chain utility,” the founder further revealed. 

Layer One X is positioning itself as one of the most revolutionary blockchain-based projects. Scheduled to launch in August 2023, Layer One X is currently in a private sale round, expected to end on Friday, March 31, 2023.

Through cross-chain interoperability and elimination of the centralized, vulnerable, and expensive crypto bridges, Layer One X will usher in a new era of blockchain ecosystem where users can exchange assets across multiple EVM and non-EVM compatible chains seamlessly.

Tagged with: Layer One X, Kevin Coutinho

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9 Things to Know About Astar Network, the Next-Gen Blockchain Tech in Polkadot https://startupfortune.com/9-things-to-know-about-astar-network-the-next-gen-blockchain-tech-in-polkadot/ https://startupfortune.com/9-things-to-know-about-astar-network-the-next-gen-blockchain-tech-in-polkadot/#respond Mon, 30 Jan 2023 06:00:23 +0000 https://startupfortune.com/?p=4303 Blockchain technology continues to disrupt the world with fast, efficient, and secure decentralized solutions. Astar Network is a leading blockchain network that offers real-world applications from decentralized finance to supply chain management. Here are 10 things you should know about Astar Network.

High-Performance: Astar Network stands out for its high-speed and low latency capabilities. This makes it ideal for real-time processing decentralized applications, including decentralized exchanges and gaming platforms.

Scalability: Astar Network is designed with scalability in mind to handle a growing user base with ease, allowing developers to confidently build and launch new applications.

Security: Security is a top priority for Astar Network with advanced features such as multi-layer encryption and secure data storage to provide users peace of mind.

Cross-Chain Communication: Astar Network enables easy cross-chain communication, connecting to other blockchain networks and opening up new opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

User-Friendly Design: Astar Network prioritizes user experience with its user-friendly interface, encouraging developers to create simple and intuitive applications.

Sustainability: Astar Network considers sustainability by using efficient consensus algorithms that reduce energy consumption and minimize the environmental impact of decentralized technology.

Supportive Community: Astar Network has a strong community focused on innovation and collaboration through regular meetups, hackathons, and other events.

Robust Governance System: Astar Network features a robust governance system that allows for decentralized decision-making and community-driven approach, ensuring the network evolves to meet the needs of its users.

Future of Decentralized Technology: Astar Network is leading the way for the future of decentralized technology with its combination of performance, security, and user-friendly design.

Join the Astar Network community to be a part of the future of decentralized technology with a fast, efficient, and secure blockchain network designed for real-world applications.

Astar Network offers a cutting-edge solution for real-world applications with its high-performance, security features, and user-friendly design. It is poised to revolutionize the DeFi experience.

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