Tether’s investment in Canada’s Elemental Altus Royalties follows the company’s strategy to “integrate long-term, stable assets such as gold and Bitcoin in its ecosystem.” Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin by market capitalization, continues its buying spree with its 32% stake acquisition in Canada’s public gold royalty firm Elemental Altus Royalties. Tether Investments on Thursday announced the acquisition of 78,421,780 common shares of Elemental (ELE) from La Mancha Investments, representing 31.9% of Elemental’s issued and outstanding shares. The transaction, completed Tuesday, was made at a price of $1.55 Canadian dollars ($1.14) per share, according to an announcement by Elemental, costing Tether approximately $89.4 million. Read more
AI is reshaping gaming, but blockchain is the missing link for next-gen, AI-powered social gaming experiences. Centralized systems limit progress, ownership and creativity. Opinion by: Kin Wai Lau, CEO of ZKcandy Many people still don’t see the point of using blockchain in games. It’s a powerful tool that drives ownership and trading but is not vital for most gameplay types. The rise of AI shifts the equation. Blockchain isn’t just a bonus feature for games enhanced with artificial intelligence — it’s critical for building consistent gameplay. Fast processors and cloud servers are not enough anymore. AI agents and players need blockchain to enable a truly social gaming experience, where achievements can be recorded and carried across different titles, turning games into connected social ecosystems. Without decentralized infrastructure, agentic gameplay risks becoming a centralized walled garden where progress is temporary, creations are locked in, and experience is limited. Read more
BTC price strength returns as US inflation cools beyond expectations, hitting dollar strength again — and new BTC price all-time highs are on the table. Key points: Bitcoin hits its anticipated $107,000 low before heading higher as US inflation data boosts bulls. US dollar strength suffers as inflation continues to slow beyond expectations. Read more
Jack Butcher — creator of meme culture NFT collection Opepen which has seen $240 million in volume — has an unexpected take on NFT royalties. Before Jack Butcher became a household name in the NFT ecosystem before Checks, before Opepen, before his landmark 74 ETH ($123,500) sale in 2021 he was just a designer chasing clarity. Not hype. Not headlines. Just clarity. Butchers journey didnt start in the meme coin trenches. It began in the agencies of London and New York where he cut his teeth as a commercial designer. I bounced around the agency scene for about 10 years. I basically worked in every commercial application of design you can think of, Butcher says. Read more
Japan’s debt crisis jolts crypto markets, testing their resilience and reviving Bitcoin’s role as a system hedge against fragile fiat systems. Crypto markets sold off sharply in August 2024 in response to global macro dislocation caused by Japan’s fiscal crisis, underscoring their sensitivity to liquidity shocks and systemic risk. In the first week of August 2024, Bitcoin (BTC) plummeted nearly 17% from its all-time high of $82,000, reversing a month-long rally fueled by ETF inflows and institutional optimism. Ether (ETH) dropped below $3,000, wiping out gains made earlier in the summer. Read more