DeFi

The Mantra blockchain network has launched a $108,888,888 ecosystem fund aimed at accelerating the growth of startups focused on real-world asset (RWA) tokenization and decentralized finance (DeFi), amid rising demand for stable, asset-backed digital products. Mantra, a layer-1 (L1) blockchain built for tokenized RWAs, launched the Mantra Ecosystem Fund (MEF) to accelerate the growth and adoption of…

The value locked in Bitcoin-based decentralized finance (BTCFi) has surged by more than 2,700% over the past year, potentially transforming Bitcoin from a passive store of value into a productive, yield-bearing asset, according to new research from Binance. BTCFi is a new technological paradigm that aims to bring decentralized finance capabilities to Bitcoin’s base layer. It…

Stablecoin developer Ethena Labs and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization company Securitize are launching a new blockchain for retail and institutional investors seeking access to the DeFi and tokenization economies. According to a March 17 announcement, the forthcoming Converge blockchain is an Ethereum Virtual Machine that will provide retail investors with access to “standard DeFi applications.” It…

RWA-focused layer-1 blockchain Mantra is the first DeFi platform to secure a license from Dubai’s virtual asset regulator, VARA. Dubai is a rising market for the blockchain industry that is quickly establishing itself as one of the world’s leading financial centers. As a result, the region has welcomed a myriad of companies, including crypto trading platforms, media…

The US Senate has passed a resolution to repeal a Biden-era rule that would require decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols to report to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Senate voted 70 to 27 on March 4 to approve a motion to repeal the rule that would expand existing IRS reporting requirements to include decentralized exchanges and require brokers to disclose gross proceeds from crypto…

The blockchain industry faces a crisis of its own making. While we celebrate theoretical transaction speeds and tout decentralization, our data infrastructure remains firmly rooted in 1970s technology. If a 20-second load time would doom a Web2 app, why are we settling for that in Web3? With 53% of users abandoning websites after just three…