5th March 2024

The past week witnessed a thrilling surge in the cryptocurrency market, with Bitcoin leading the charge alongside notable gains from Ethereum, Solana, and even Dogecoin. Bitcoin, the pioneer cryptocurrency, has been on a remarkable ascent, nearing its all-time high and currently hovering around $67,945 at the time of this writing. This surge, exceeding 19.5% over the past seven days, has been attributed in part to ongoing ETF developments, suggesting that the bull run may just be gaining momentum.

Wall Street's embrace of Bitcoin through newly approved funds, notably BlackRock's, has spurred unprecedented investor interest, resulting in record inflows and trading volumes. With Bitcoin now inching closer to its November 2021 peak of $69,044, excitement in the market is palpable.

Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, also experienced a notable surge, reaching $3,798 with a 16.6% increase over the week, coinciding with anticipation for its upcoming Dencaun upgrade. Solana, positioned as Ethereum's competitor, surged to a 25-month high before settling slightly below at $138.41, marking a remarkable 27% increase over seven days.

However, it was Dogecoin that stole the spotlight among the top cryptocurrencies, favored by none other than Elon Musk. With a staggering 92% surge over the week, Dogecoin is currently priced at $0.1849, although it still has a considerable distance to cover before reaching its May 2021 peak of $0.73.

Meanwhile, smaller meme coins like Shiba Inu and Pepe garnered significant attention, with the latter experiencing an astronomical surge of over 200% in just seven days, reaching its all-time high on the Ethereum platform.

In summary, while Bitcoin's rally continues to dominate headlines, the broader cryptocurrency market witnessed impressive performances across various tokens, showcasing the dynamism and potential of digital assets in today's financial landscape.

In other news UAE Council for AI & blockchain discusses the adoption of AI technologies in developing digital services Mad Lads’ Backpack exchange closes $17 million Series A led by Placeholder VC, DDX Global set to unlock the enormous potential of real estate tokenization with Desert Pearl and Aquanow türkiye receives strategic investment from Oyak Portföy and Finberg. Dubai regulator grants Wadzpay A crypto broker license, OKX expands to Turkey as part of global expansion plan and Ubisoft taps AI analytics firm to bolster 'champions tactics' NFT game launch. 

In the news: 

Liquid Restaking Protocol Ether.Fi Raises $23M Series A. Ether.fi, a restaking protocol, raised $23M in Series A led by Bullish Capital and CoinFund, boosting its value to $1.66B. Coindesk 

Deus X Capital Will Acquire HAYVN for undisclosed amounts. Deus X Capital acquires HAYVN, expanding crypto services in the Middle East, led by CEO Richard Crook. Crypto SA 

UAE Council for AI & blockchain discusses the adoption of AI technologies in developing digital services. H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama underscores UAE's dedication to advancing digital technologies in a pivotal Ministry of Finance meeting. Ministry of Cabinet Affairs 

Mad Lads’ Backpack exchange closes $17 million Series A led by Placeholder VC. Solana Exchange Backpack secures $17M Series A, led by Placeholder VC, valuing at $120M; supports trust-minimized finance. Coinmarketcap 

Paper VC’s Oliver Blakey Unveils $25M Web3 Venture Fund: Navigating risk, Pioneering Investments, and the Art of the Pitch. Oliver Blakey navigates web3 VC with a $25M fund, emphasizing simplicity in pitches for riskier pre-seed investments. Influencive 

DDX Global is set to unlock the enormous potential of real estate tokenization with Desert Pearl. Tokenized assets are anticipated to reach a market value of US$16 trillion by 2030, with significant prospects in Dubai fueled by its emphasis on digitalization and blockchain technology. Zawya 

Avail, an Ethereum data network to rival Celestia, raises $27M in seed round. The funds will be utilized for the development of its three primary offerings: "Avail DA," "Nexus," and "Fusion Security." Coindesk 

Aquanow türkiye receives strategic investment from Oyak Portföy and Finberg. Aquanow Türkiye secures strategic investment from Oyak Portföy and Finberg, paving the way for innovative digital asset solutions in Turkey's burgeoning crypto market. Businesswire 

Validation cloud secures $5.8M to prepare web3 for global enterprise adoption. Validation Cloud secures $5.8M led by Cadenza Ventures, highlighting critical Web3 infrastructure needs. Decrypt 

Singapore's BuildBear labs raise $1.9M, pioneering new horizons in web3 development. Singapore's BuildBear Labs secures $1.9M, leading a transformative shift in dApp testing with ACTE. BNN Breaking 

Dubai regulator grants Wadzpay A crypto broker license but not A payment one. WPME Technology, the Dubai-based arm of WadzPay, secures a Virtual Asset Broker-Dealer license from VARA, advancing blockchain solutions in the Middle East fintech landscape. Lara on the Block 

Web3’s passive income gold standard: Scorpion Casino (SCORP) leads the race with $4 million raised. Scorpion Casino's SCORP token revolutionizes gaming, raising $4 million in presale, offering dividends, and enhancing security in blockchain gambling. BItcoinist 

OKX expands to Turkey as part of the global expansion plan. OKX.TR debuts in Turkey, featuring Lira pairs; President Fang praises Turkey's crypto role amid economic shifts and banking initiatives. Coindesk 

Blackrock bitcoin ETF hits record volume of over $1.3B for the second consecutive day. BlackRock's IBIT ETF shines with $1.3 billion daily trading as bitcoin hits $57,000, boosting investor interest in U.S.-listed ETFs. Coindesk 

Uniswap introduces wallet extension and limit orders, UNI jumps 83% in 30 days. Uniswap introduces a browser extension for seamless transactions, adds limit orders, and experiences a 48.7% surge in UNI token post-update. Bitcoin.com 

Arte News: 

Saudi introduces the world’s first metaverse VR tours. Saudi Ministry of Culture launches the world's premier Cultural Metaverse, blending history, VR tours, and interactive experiences via GMI. Zawya 

From volatility to stability: Multipurpose tokens in Web3 gaming. QORPO World revolutionizes Web3 gaming with a multipurpose token, ensuring enduring value and democratizing economies. Cointelegraph 

OKX Ventures Fuels Delphinus Lab’s Vision for a Trustless Web3 Era. OKX Ventures propels Delphinus Lab's pioneering vision for a trustless Web3 era, revolutionizing decentralized application integration with cutting-edge zkWASM technology. Crypto Times 

Metaverse in Healthcare Market Size Estimated to Reach Nearly $500 Billion by 2033: Report. Spherical Insights projects Meta's Metaverse in healthcare, estimating a $500 billion market by 2033, driven by AR/VR technology. Gadgets360 

Sui was Recognized as the 2024 Blockchain Solution of the Year at AIBC Eurasia Awards. Sui, the layer 1 blockchain, triumphed at the Eurasia Awards, recognized for its DeFi impact and innovation. Decrypt 

PUBG publisher taps Circle to integrate in-game wallet on a new metaverse. Overdare collaborates with Circle to integrate Web3 wallets, enabling creators to receive USDC payouts in the metaverse. Trading View 

Pixels is valued at $2.7 billion after moving to the Ronin blockchain. Pixels, a Web3 game, achieves a $3 billion valuation post-Binance token listing, with PIXEL trading up 1246%. Dapp Expert 

The Entire Luxury Industry Is About to Embrace Crypto, Says Aura CEO. Luxury brands, coordinated by the Aura Blockchain Consortium, are pioneering blockchain integration to meet forthcoming EU regulations, offering customers enhanced authenticity and engagement through on-chain features. Decrypt 

Ethermail launches an email-as-a-wallet solution, extending web3 accessibility to billions of users. EtherMail introduces Email-as-a-Wallet (EaaW), merging Web3 with familiar logins, simplifying transactions, and bridging the Web2/Web3 gap.  Decrypt 

Ubisoft taps AI analytics firm to bolster 'champions tactics' NFT game launch. Ubisoft teams with Helika for NFT game, Champions Tactics, leveraging analytics on Oasys blockchain; Helika secures $8M funding. Decrypt 

GCC nations target for $15 billion metaverse growth by 2030. GCC anticipates $15 billion in metaverse revenue by 2030, prompting exploration of sector impact and regional expansion initiatives. Crypto SA 

‘Parallel’ Ethereum NFT card game set to open to the public. GG's selection for the game of the year in 2023, Parallel, is broadening its horizons with the initiation of an open beta release, coupled with the introduction of a fresh in-game season. Decrypt 

Blast unlocks $2.3 billion in crypto as Ethereum scaler launches. The Ethereum layer-2 network Blast has commenced its operations with the inauguration of the first applications, enabling users to withdraw billions in crypto funds previously locked up. Decrypt 

Portal airdrop begins as Ethereum gaming token hits $425 million market cap. Portal, a cross-chain gaming platform, has recently introduced its token and initiated an airdrop in anticipation of forthcoming incentives such as staking rewards, nodes, and various other advantages. Decrypt 

Solana gaming project MixMob bags stormtrooper NFT licensing rights. The governance token of MixMob on the Solana blockchain, known as MXM, is utilized to run the MXM Esports League and provides incentives for players. Coindesk 

The Green Block News: 

Govt raises $3.3bln to support climate change initiatives in SA. Government secures $3.3bn from international banks, addressing climate risks with disaster response grants and private sector incentives. Zawya 

Ajman Department of Finance attains two ISO certifications for Integrated Management Systems and Human Resources. The Ajman Department of Finance achieves ISO certifications, emphasizing commitment to international standards and operational excellence. Zawya 

Tadawul boosts sustainability initiatives through an agreement with SALIC. Tadawul and SALIC partner to advance nationwide sustainability, aligning with the Saudi Green Initiative at the Riyadh forum. Zawya 

Dubai Sustainable City wins international award. The Dubai Sustainable City has recorded a reduced carbon footprint and lower water consumption when contrasted with regional averages. Construction Week Online 

Mastercard and DIFC Innovation Hub host a thought leadership forum for businesses to implement innovative strategies driving sustainable growth. Mastercard and DIFC Innovation Hub led a sustainable growth forum with industry figures stressing innovation and collaboration. Mastercard 

DEWA supports the realisation of sustainability through a roadmap based on promising projects and eco-friendly practices. DEWA launches sustainability roadmap, pledges eco-friendly practices, achieves 32.7% increase in clean energy generation. Zawya 

European Commission pledges €233 mn for environmental initiatives. Initiatives encompass marine conservation efforts in Ireland, measures to enhance air quality in Poland, biodiversity preservation in Italy, and endeavors toward carbon neutrality in Finland, among various others. Fibre2Fashion 

Xcelerate secures over $25m in funding to expand GRC and ESG platform. Federated Hermes Private Equity leads a substantial financial injection into Xcelerate, backed by Altair Capital, Exacta Capital Partners, and additional investments from Xcelerate's co-founders and shareholders. Fintech Global 

New research reveals how brands can tap into the $44 billion sustainability opportunity. New research, in collaboration with 3BL, TriplePundit, and Cint, unveils a $44 billion sustainability opportunity for brands, offering insights into consumer perception, brand switching, demographics, and communication strategies. Report Alert 

Cordx donates $3 million to drive sustainable energy innovation at UC San Diego. Entrepreneurs Aiiso Yufeng Li (Jeff) and Dongdong Guo (Doreen) pledge $3 million through CorDx to support leading-edge research and collaborations in the UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering’s Sustainable Power and Energy Center (SPEC), focusing on advancing sustainable energy technologies. India Education Diary 

Philip Morris International was included in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the first time. Philip Morris International (PMI) announced its inaugural inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, a renowned benchmark for evaluating the sustainability efforts of global corporations, according to a company statement. CNBC 

Meralco commits P100 billion for sustainability initiatives. The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) has committed to investing P100 billion over the next six years in initiatives aligned with its long-term sustainability strategy (LTSS), focusing on enhancing its distribution network and expanding renewable energy efforts. GMA Network 

Supporting sustainable biopharmaceutical production with plant-based plastic labware. Is the reliance of researchers on disposable plastics causing an environmental predicament, and could transitioning to plant-based plastic labware offer a sustainable resolution? Technology Networks 

Brazil unveils FX hedge program for sustainable investments. The move, confirming a Reuters report on Wednesday, is intended to promote foreign investments in "green" projects in the country "so that the risks associated with exchange rate volatility are mitigated and do not hinder these investments, which are crucial for the ecological transformation," said the ministry. Reuters