The Celo Foundation was founded in 2017 to support the growth and development of the decentralized, open source, mobile-first Celo platform to help build a carbon-negative financial system that creates the conditions of prosperity for all. The Foundation is guided by the Celo community tenets and contributes to education, technical research, environmental health, community engagement, and ecosystem outreach—activities that support and encourage an inclusive financial system. For more about Celo, visit https://celo.org/.

Celo

celo

Isha Varshney with Rosette Belesi, Product Marketing Director at Opera, at OpenFi discussing "Building, Scaling & Enhancing MiniPay to Onboard African Users to Web3." Photo by Benjamin Arthur, courtesy of IdOS. During EthCC, I had a chance to catch up with Isha Varshney, Head of Ecosystem at the Celo Foundation, who has extensive experience in decentralized finance and global financial inclusion initiatives. Given the main criticism around EthCC that “there are more side events than dApps,” we focused our conversation on building for the real world and MiniPay, a Celo-based app that has seen significant success in Africa with over 3 million wallet activations across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. Isha, how are you enjoying EthCC? Any key themes you’re noticing? EthCC has been incredible. Some of the major themes revolve around Layer 2 solutions. Last Sunday, core contributors cLabs launched the Celo Layer 2testnet, Dango. It's exciting to see the momentum as Celo migrates to join the OP Stack, a modular blockchain architecture. We also participated in several events with Superchain and the OP Stack team, bringing together incredible builders. It's thrilling to see so many talented teams and individuals joining this ecosystem. What are the biggest challenges in bringing Web3 to the mainstream? Is there still a big gap? Yes and no. We're still in the early stages of Web3 and crypto. Much of the technology is highly technical and not immediately relevant to the everyday person—like my mom or friends who might not understand concepts like intents. However, these building blocks are crucial for the technology's development and interoperability. The work we're doing now is laying the foundation for the future. In about five years, we hope to abstract crypto away from everyday users, making it seamlessly integrated into their lives. We're at an exciting juncture where we're building the infrastructure that will soon bring Web3 to the mainstream. Building for users’ current needs and behaviors is a crucial component of this—and that means building for mobile devices. With roughly ¾ of the world’s population owning smartphones, far more than the population that has access to a computer, and financial activity increasingly being conducted by mobile devices, it’s necessary that we build mobile-first. This is what excites me about so many projects in the Celo ecosystem that are developing solutions to everyday challenges that users can incorporate into their daily lives. What are the key elements needed to build the next great decentralized application (dApp)? We're not thinking enough about everyday usability in this space. Interacting with crypto can be complicated and intimidating. For example, using most crypto wallets involves signing transactions and dealing with private keys, public keys, and wallet addresses, which are not exactly user-friendly. One solution to address this is SocialConnect, a primitive developed for Celo that allows users to leverage their phone numbers as their wallet addresses. This kind of simplicity is crucial. We need more technology like that to onboard the next billion users. For crypto and Web3 to go mainstream, it has to be easy and intuitive for users. When you talk to people who aren't in Web3, they often find it speculative and scary. What we need next is to remove these frictions and make it easy to understand. We're working on it and making progress in this space. MiniPay has seen amazing growth. Can you share its journey and what it does? The collaboration between Celo and Opera is fascinating. Opera, a browser with 100 million users across Africa, is pre-installed on every Android device. In Africa, Android devices are ubiquitous, and people primarily interact with technology through their phones. Opera initially gained popularity by providing some free data, which is costly in many African regions, enabling anyone to browse the internet for one or two hours daily, opening up access for many users. Celo’s ecosystem has always focused on real-world applications in these markets, so partnering with Opera was a natural fit. With their extensive distribution network, we integrated a wallet into the existing mobile Android browser used by millions, making it simple and accessible. We launched this wallet in September last year, rolling it out country by country. Starting in Nigeria, we now operate in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa. We now have over 3 million users, onboarding a massive number of new users daily. The wallet is designed with a stablecoin-only interface and a user-friendly UI/UX, allowing users to sign in with their Google account, making it incredibly easy to use. Why is the stablecoin aspect important? Are stablecoins the perfect gateway to Web3? Absolutely. Stablecoins are vital because they offer a consistent value in contrast to the often volatile nature of other cryptocurrencies. In emerging economies, where local currencies can be deflationary, people are familiar with and trust the value of the US dollar. Stablecoins provide this reliability, making them an ideal entry point into Web3. They give users confidence that their money will hold its value, which is crucial in markets where per-wallet volumes aren't large and financial security is paramount. We started with the Celo Dollar (cUSD) in the wallet and recently expanded to include USDC from Circle and Tether’s USDT. The wallet's Pockets feature displays USDC, USDT, and cUSD in a simple, clean interface. Users can easily swap between these stablecoins by dragging and swapping from asset to asset—one of the only 1:1 stablecoin swap features on the market. The ease of use enhances accessibility while also bringing the experience of transacting with multiple stables to users who might be unfamiliar. What advice do you have for builders trying to create for the people? My experience with the Opera team has been incredible. They execute like no other team. They have over 1,000 ambassadors on the ground across all these markets and are constantly engaging with their ambassador network. This network helps onboard and troubleshoot with users, ensuring a smooth experience. Opera takes feedback and builds on it really well. For example, we started with only cUSD, and the feedback was that users were familiar with other stablecoins and wanted to be able to use them in MiniPay. So, we added those to the product, meeting users where they are. That's my message to builders: meet people where they are. If they're familiar with something, leverage that. It's already challenging enough, so let's not reinvent the wheel. With Celo, from day one, we've built for real-world use cases. Every step of the way, we've focused on building for practical applications, like microcredit in emerging markets with EthicHub or Haraka. We're committed to meeting users where they are and will continue to do so with MiniPay and all other projects. What’s one app you’d really like to see built next? Hmm, that’s a good one! I would love to see an all-in-one app similar to WeChat in China, which covers everything from payments to utilities. MiniPay is moving towards that vision for Africa with the inclusion of a Discover Page for the growing roster of integrated dApps. Imagine a single platform where you can handle all your needs using stablecoins or a corporate-backed currency. For instance, as frequent travelers, we constantly switch SIM cards. What if we could abstract that concept, not just for SIM cards but for all forms of payment? It would be fantastic to have a seamless payment experience, no matter where you are. If I’m in Brussels and from New York, I should be able to pay for everything with the same app. It would make managing finances and daily activities so much simpler and more convenient. Isha Varshney with Rosette Belesi, Product Marketing Director at Opera, at OpenFi discussing "Building, Scaling & Enhancing MiniPay to Onboard African Users to Web3." Photo by Benjamin Arthur, courtesy of IdOS. Isha Varshney with Rosette Belesi, Product Marketing Director at Opera, at OpenFi discussing "Building, Scaling & Enhancing MiniPay to Onboard African Users to Web3." Photo by Benjamin Arthur , courtesy of IdOS. Benjamin Arthur During EthCC, I had a chance to catch up with Isha Varshney, Head of Ecosystem at the Celo Foundation, who has extensive experience in decentralized finance and global financial inclusion initiatives. Given the main criticism around EthCC that “there are more side events than dApps,” we focused our conversation on building for the real world and MiniPay, a Celo-based app that has seen significant success in Africa with over 3 million wallet activations across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. During EthCC, I had a chance to catch up with Isha Varshney, Head of Ecosystem at the Celo Foundation, who has extensive experience in decentralized finance and global financial inclusion initiatives. Given the main criticism around EthCC that “there are more side events than dApps,” we focused our conversation on building for the real world and MiniPay, a Celo-based app that has seen significant success in Africa with over 3 million wallet activations across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. During EthCC, I had a chance to catch up with Isha Varshney , Head of Ecosystem at the Celo Foundation , who has extensive experience in decentralized finance and global financial inclusion initiatives. Given the main criticism around EthCC that “there are more side events than dApps,” we focused our conversation on building for the real world and MiniPay , a Celo-based app that has seen significant success in Africa with over 3 million wallet activations across Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. Isha Varshney Isha Varshney Celo Foundation Celo Foundation MiniPay MiniPay over 3 million wallet activations over 3 million wallet activations Isha, how are you enjoying EthCC? Any key themes you’re noticing? Isha, how are you enjoying EthCC? Any key themes you’re noticing? EthCC has been incredible. Some of the major themes revolve around Layer 2 solutions. Last Sunday, core contributors cLabs launched the Celo Layer 2testnet, Dango. It's exciting to see the momentum as Celo migrates to join the OP Stack, a modular blockchain architecture. We also participated in several events with Superchain and the OP Stack team, bringing together incredible builders. It's thrilling to see so many talented teams and individuals joining this ecosystem. What are the biggest challenges in bringing Web3 to the mainstream? Is there still a big gap? Yes and no. We're still in the early stages of Web3 and crypto. Much of the technology is highly technical and not immediately relevant to the everyday person—like my mom or friends who might not understand concepts like intents. However, these building blocks are crucial for the technology's development and interoperability. The work we're doing now is laying the foundation for the future. In about five years, we hope to abstract crypto away from everyday users, making it seamlessly integrated into their lives. We're at an exciting juncture where we're building the infrastructure that will soon bring Web3 to the mainstream. Building for users’ current needs and behaviors is a crucial component of this—and that means building for mobile devices. With roughly ¾ of the world’s population owning smartphones, far more than the population that has access to a computer, and financial activity increasingly being conducted by mobile devices, it’s necessary that we build mobile-first. This is what excites me about so many projects in the Celo ecosystem that are developing solutions to everyday challenges that users can incorporate into their daily lives. What are the key elements needed to build the next great decentralized application (dApp)? We're not thinking enough about everyday usability in this space. Interacting with crypto can be complicated and intimidating. For example, using most crypto wallets involves signing transactions and dealing with private keys, public keys, and wallet addresses, which are not exactly user-friendly. One solution to address this is SocialConnect, a primitive developed for Celo that allows users to leverage their phone numbers as their wallet addresses. This kind of simplicity is crucial. We need more technology like that to onboard the next billion users. For crypto and Web3 to go mainstream, it has to be easy and intuitive for users. When you talk to people who aren't in Web3, they often find it speculative and scary. What we need next is to remove these frictions and make it easy to understand. We're working on it and making progress in this space. MiniPay has seen amazing growth. Can you share its journey and what it does? The collaboration between Celo and Opera is fascinating. Opera, a browser with 100 million users across Africa, is pre-installed on every Android device. In Africa, Android devices are ubiquitous, and people primarily interact with technology through their phones. Opera initially gained popularity by providing some free data, which is costly in many African regions, enabling anyone to browse the internet for one or two hours daily, opening up access for many users. Celo’s ecosystem has always focused on real-world applications in these markets, so partnering with Opera was a natural fit. With their extensive distribution network, we integrated a wallet into the existing mobile Android browser used by millions, making it simple and accessible. We launched this wallet in September last year, rolling it out country by country. Starting in Nigeria, we now operate in Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, and South Africa. We now have over 3 million users, onboarding a massive number of new users daily. The wallet is designed with a stablecoin-only interface and a user-friendly UI/UX, allowing users to sign in with their Google account, making it incredibly easy to use. Why is the stablecoin aspect important? Are stablecoins the perfect gateway to Web3? Absolutely. Stablecoins are vital because they offer a consistent value in contrast to the often volatile nature of other cryptocurrencies. In emerging economies, where local currencies can be deflationary, people are familiar with and trust the value of the US dollar. Stablecoins provide this reliability, making them an ideal entry point into Web3. They give users confidence that their money will hold its value, which is crucial in markets where per-wallet volumes aren't large and financial security is paramount. We started with the Celo Dollar (cUSD) in the wallet and recently expanded to include USDC from Circle and Tether’s USDT. The wallet's Pockets feature displays USDC, USDT, and cUSD in a simple, clean interface. Users can easily swap between these stablecoins by dragging and swapping from asset to asset—one of the only 1:1 stablecoin swap features on the market. The ease of use enhances accessibility while also bringing the experience of transacting with multiple stables to users who might be unfamiliar. Pockets feature Pockets feature What advice do you have for builders trying to create for the people? My experience with the Opera team has been incredible. They execute like no other team. They have over 1,000 ambassadors on the ground across all these markets and are constantly engaging with their ambassador network. This network helps onboard and troubleshoot with users, ensuring a smooth experience. Opera takes feedback and builds on it really well. For example, we started with only cUSD, and the feedback was that users were familiar with other stablecoins and wanted to be able to use them in MiniPay. So, we added those to the product, meeting users where they are. That's my message to builders: meet people where they are. If they're familiar with something, leverage that. It's already challenging enough, so let's not reinvent the wheel. With Celo, from day one, we've built for real-world use cases. Every step of the way, we've focused on building for practical applications, like microcredit in emerging markets with EthicHub or Haraka . We're committed to meeting users where they are and will continue to do so with MiniPay and all other projects. EthicHub EthicHub Haraka Haraka What’s one app you’d really like to see built next? Hmm, that’s a good one! I would love to see an all-in-one app similar to WeChat in China, which covers everything from payments to utilities. MiniPay is moving towards that vision for Africa with the inclusion of a Discover Page for the growing roster of integrated dApps. Imagine a single platform where you can handle all your needs using stablecoins or a corporate-backed currency. For instance, as frequent travelers, we constantly switch SIM cards. What if we could abstract that concept, not just for SIM cards but for all forms of payment? It would be fantastic to have a seamless payment experience, no matter where you are. If I’m in Brussels and from New York, I should be able to pay for everything with the same app. It would make managing finances and daily activities so much simpler and more convenient.

Successful dApps Make Web3 Invisible to Users, Says Celo’s Isha Varshney

সফল dApps Web3 ব্যবহারকারীদের কাছে অদৃশ্য করে তোলে, সেলোর ইশা ভার্শনি বলেছেন

Erfolgreiche dApps machen Web3 für Benutzer unsichtbar, sagt Isha Varshney von Celo

Las dApps exitosas hacen que Web3 sea invisible para los usuarios, dice Isha Varshney de Celo

Les dApps réussies rendent le Web3 invisible pour les utilisateurs, déclare Isha Varshney de Celo

सेलो की ईशा वार्ष्णेय का कहना है कि सफल dApps वेब3 को उपयोगकर्ताओं के लिए अदृश्य बना देते हैं

CeloのIsha Varshney氏は、成功したdAppsはWeb3をユーザーから見えなくする、と語る

Celo의 Isha Varshney는 성공적인 dApp으로 인해 Web3가 사용자에게 보이지 않게 된다고 말합니다.

DApps bem-sucedidos tornam a Web3 invisível para os usuários, afirma Isha Varshney da Celo

Успешные dApps делают Web3 невидимым для пользователей, говорит Иша Варшни из Celo

Celo'dan Isha Varshney, Başarılı dApp'lerin Web3'ü Kullanıcılara Görünmez Hale Getirdiğini Söyledi

Isha Varshney của Celo cho biết các dApp thành công khiến Web3 trở nên vô hình đối với người dùng

Celo 的 Isha Varshney 表示，成功的 dApp 让 Web3 对用户来说变得不可见

Onboarding the next wave of users to Web3 is a massive undertaking that many projects in the ecosystem are building for. One project with a unique approach to this is Celo, a layer-one blockchain network. Celo gives a superior new-user experience by being a mobile-first layer-1 blockchain that is easy to use with just a mobile phone. Your phone number acts as your address rather than a complex string, and the network allows users the option to pay gas fees with other tokens than the native currency. However, the user experience is just one side of the onboarding coin. Developer experience is the other. After all, a new network is just as good as the RPCs that let you use it. Only some developers have the resources to run a node. Infura, one of the most popular Web3 node providers, now offers Celo Network RPC nodes to all users. So if you want to start building on this mobile-first network, there’s never been a better time. Before you start building, let’s learn more about Celo. This article will provide a high-level overview of the Celo Blockchain Network and how you can start building on it using Infura. What is Celo? Celo is that focuses on mobile users. a high-throughput layer-1 network Mapping Phone Numbers to Public Keys Celo is easier for mobile phone users than other networks. Celo maps phone numbers to public keys, allowing users to send tokens to people who don’t have wallets. does the mapping and links an account to a phone number. This service never receives the phone number in clear text to . A decentralized attestation protocol maintain privacy As a result, user experience is better than most blockchains, as all interactions are done through phone numbers, rather than 30+ character-long strings that are easy to make mistakes with and impossible to memorize. Paying Gas Fees with ERC-20 Tokens Another usability hurdle is that most networks require users to pay gas fees with a native token. This results in users exchanging other tokens for native ones just to be able to send transactions. This is a problem for two reasons. First, it adds a non-trivial step to every transaction if the user doesn’t have enough native tokens. Second, exchanging tokens is taxable in some countries, so they need to keep track of each time they exchange to a native token just to cover gas fees. With Celo, you can pay with any approved ERC-20 token currently available, even stablecoins, lowering yet another barrier to entry and making costs more predictable. However, there is one caveat: transactions paid with non-CELO gas currencies will cost roughly . It’s also important to note that there is a . 50k additional gas governable list of accepted currencies When developing, Celo comes with a dapp SDK called . This SDK is a suite of packages that make building on Celo more straightforward. Connect, one of ContractKit’s main packages, acts as a wrapper around web3.js that handles the different currencies to pay the fees. ContractKit You can set your preferred currency as default for all transactions, like in this example: import { CeloContract } from "@celo/contractkit"

const accounts = await kit.web3.eth.getAccounts()
kit.defaultAccount = accounts[0]
await kit.setFeeCurrency(CeloContract.StableToken) With this in your code, you are setting the default currency if the field is left blank when sending a transaction. The user can still select another currency to use. feeCurrency ContractKit comes with a list of contract addresses that include all core Celo currencies. In the example refers to cUSD. CeloContract.StableToken It’s also possible to set your preferred currency per transaction. In this example, we send cUSD and also pay with cUSD. const contract = await kit.contracts.getStableToken()
await contract.transfer(recipientAddress, amount)
  .send({ feeCurrency: contract.address }) Celo’s virtual machine is also EVM compatible since it originated as a fork of . This compatibility enables you to reuse most of your Solidity skills when deploying your smart contracts on Celo. However, there are some notable differences. Geth The first difference is that transaction objects have additional fields like , , and . They provide full-node incentives and allow users to pay their gas fees with different tokens. This doesn’t affect you when porting smart contracts from Ethereum to Celo, but it could be an issue when porting from Celo to Ethereum. feeCurrency gatewayFee gatewayFeeRecipient The second difference could have implications for your Ethereum-based smart contracts. The and opcodes aren’t supported, and the fields are also missing from block headers. DIFFICULTY GASLIMIT A third difference is that the key derivation path is and not like in Ethereum. Essentially, this derivation path allows wallets to generate different keys from one seed phrase. m/44'/52752'/0'/0 m/44'/60'/0'/0 The Network is Carbon Negative CO2 production by blockchain networks has been a huge talking point in the last few years. Coming from Bitcoin, many of the early networks used the Proof-of-Work consensus algorithm to eliminate Sybil attacks. The Celo protocol uses , which minimizes energy usage of the network by over 90%. Plus, it can create a new block in five seconds, less than half the time Ethereum needs. BFT Proof-of-Stake Furthermore, all blocks are finalized immediately, so you and your users don’t have to wait for their actions to be written on-chain. All this optimization still produces CO2, so , a carbon offset subscription service that offsets 65.7 tons of CO2 monthly to get carbon negative. With tech-funded rainforest protection, Celo has already saved over 30,000 tons of CO2. Celo uses projects like Wren Why Use Celo with Infura? Infura offers free RPCs for prominent wallets, and use them as their RPC provider, including Brave, Uniswap, Compound, Gnosis, and Maker, just to name a few. Additionally, Infura has achieved 99.99% uptime and about 10 times faster response times than other service providers like Alchemy or Quicknode. many big Web3 projects ConsenSys, the company behind Infura also created and maintains crucial Web3 projects such as and the . So the shared know-how of creating wallets, dev tools, and RPCs creates synergies you won’t get from any other RPC provider. This also means you get trusted and complementary end-to-end tooling from the ConsenSys suite of products that flawlessly integrate with Infura RPCs. MetaMask Truffle Suite With the release of , Infura now , so you can build on multiple chains at once. Best of all, it’s free to access these networks and their archived data! Celo RPCs supports 10 different networks Summary Celo is an exciting chain that tackles Web3 user and developer experience pain-points with innovative solutions. With its mobile-first approach, users can interact with the network and receive tokens with their phone number rather than a crypto wallet, making onboarding to the network easier for Web3 newcomers. With the option to pay gas fees with other tokens rather than the native currency, Celo also removed a massive hurdle in the daily use of a blockchain network. Other networks require fees paid with a native and potentially volatile token. Now that Infura offers RPC nodes for the Celo network, it’s the perfect time to start building on this mobile-first blockchain network. For more information, . check out Infura’s docs Also Published Here

How to Get Started on Celo with Infura RPC Endpoints

We at Tatum have been big fans of for a while now. What’s not to love? Blazing fast transaction times, minimal gas fees, full EVM compatibility, all backed by a fantastic team and a mission statement that we can really get behind: Celo “To build a financial system that creates the conditions for prosperity — for everyone.” We love Celo so much that we’ve built more features for the blockchain than any other we support in our platform. And now, , faster than ever before. We want to make sure any developer — and we really mean ANY developer — can do everything they need to build full-fledged dapps on Celo. We’ve built a suite of tools for creating anything you need using our SDKs and API, and where they really shine is for making cutting-edge dapps in Celo’s thriving NFT ecosystem. we’re partnering with Celo to help more developers build better NFT apps All the NFT Tools You Need So let’s break down exactly what we mean by this. Let’s say you’re a developer with zero blockchain experience who wants to build an NFT app or marketplace. What will you need to do on Celo to make this happen? Your users need a place to hold their NFTs So, you’ll need to create wallets for them. You can easily do that with our SDK or API, but most users won’t want to be bothered with securely storing their private keys. And with , they won’t have to. Tatum Key Management System (KMS) KMS allows you to build full custodial solutions to locally generate wallets, private keys, and deposit addresses, and to securely sign transactions on-premise. . Your users can just log in with their credentials, and KMS takes care of the rest. Security, unlimited scalability, and it’s ready-to-go out of the box Now, how are you going to make those NFTs? Whether you’re allowing your users to mint NFTs, or creating your own collections to sell in your app or marketplace, you’ll need some way to create NFTs. If you do this yourself from scratch, you’ll need to learn Solidity to code your own NFT smart contract. And this will take you A LOT of time and effort to get right. But with Tatum, you can create NFTs without ever learning Solidity. We’ve already created prebuilt smart contracts for you to rapidly deploy, and they’re ready to go with just 1 API call. , and you can easily build NFT features into your app for your end-users to mint their own. You can be up and minting NFTs in minutes instead of months We’ve got ready-to-go , (to create shared-ownership NFTs and other advanced use cases), and even have smart contracts if you want to create your own cryptocurrency on Celo. We’ve also got ready-to-go that record provenance data and can pay percentage royalties to multiple authors in any ERC-20 token you want. But that’s a whole other discussion in and of itself. ERC-721 smart contracts ERC-1155s ERC-20 royalty NFTs Notifications for any token transfer Now that you’ve created your NFT collection, you’ll want to be able to send NFTs to different Celo account addresses. Don’t worry, we’ve got an endpoint for that too. And what’s more, you can also set up — for any kind of token, and for both incoming and outgoing transactions. With just a couple of lines of code, you can instantly notify your users when they receive NFTs, CELO, cUSD, cEUR, cREAL or any other ERC-20 or ERC-1155 tokens. This is normally really difficult, but with Tatum it’s just a matter of 1 API call. webhook notifications for any account address on Celo Instantly look up NFT data Your app’s end-users will definitely want to see the awesome NFTs in their collection, and you can easily let them with our Get NFT metadata endpoint. But that’s just the beginning. You can look up NFTs by token, address, different transactions, and a wide variety of other parameters. You can show your users everything they need and create a seamless NFT app experience on Celo. And That’s Just a Little Taste As we mentioned earlier, we’ve got more features available for Celo than any other platform, and it’s honestly far too much to cover in just one article. But you should really check out our (automatically pay for your users’ gas fees), and all the insane features that come with Tatum’s virtual accounts. instant NFT marketplace smart contracts, gas pump We hope this gives you an idea of the potential, and we hope you’re as excited as we are about building NFT apps on Celo. For a full list of the features available to you on Celo, head on over to our . And if you’re ready to start building, we’ve got some news for you… Celo + Tatum page Build for Free and Win Bounties To kick off our partnership in style, we’re offering some serious incentives to help you start building on Celo. * upgraded to Basic Plans (usually $49/month) for 3 months. The first 1,000 developers to sign up for the promo offer will have their Tatum Free Plans Our Basic plan is actually one of the least basic plans around: you can use everything in Tatum, and you get 200 API requests per second and 5 million requests per month — way more than you’re gonna need. This promo is on a first-come, first-served basis, so sign up fast to get one! And to top it off, we’re also offering some serious using Tatum. A joint panel of Tatum + Celo judges will be evaluating every submitted project, and the top 3 will receive $1.5k worth of CELO or cUSD each. bounties for projects built on Celo For more information on the bounties, head on over to the following , and get building: Celo GitCoin pages Create an NFT marketplace using Tatum’s APIs to integrate Celo Using NFT Express, create a mobile app that allows users to mint NFTs on Celo Integrate in-game NFTs and an ERC-20 currency into a mobile game using Tatum’s SDK for Celo To learn more about Tatum, visit . https://tatum.io/ *While this Tatum plan is free, use of it requires paying normal Celo mainnet gas fees. About Celo Celo is a carbon-negative, layer-1 protocol with a rich ecosystem of global partners building Web3 applications, including in DeFi, NFTs, and payments, in support of Celo’s mission to create a more accessible and inclusive global financial system. Accessible to anyone with a smartphone, the Celo ecosystem consists of a decentralized, proof-of-stake blockchain technology stack (Celo Protocol), the CELO token, and stablecoins (cUSD, cEUR, cREAL). Additionally, the ecosystem is supported by the Alliance for Prosperity, which consists of over 150 mission-aligned Celo Foundation members around the globe, including Deutsche Telekom, PayU, Opera, Andreessen Horowitz, Anchorage, Coinbase, GSMA, Grameen Foundation, Prosegur, Abra, and cLabs, a service organization dedicated to growing and developing the Celo ecosystem. For more information, visit the . Celo Foundation with the #blockchain tag on HackerNoon - Submit a story win 100-500 USDT every month 👨‍💻 We’re hiring

Celo’s Entire NFT Ecosystem is Now Open to Developers

Congrats on raising new financing for Masa Finance. How much money did you raise? And what are the terms of the deal? On May 4, we announced a $3.5 million in pre-seed funding. We offered equity through a SAFE in the sponsoring company and tokens in the DAO which is launching when the protocol goes live later in the year. Who participated in the round? And how will these investors help the business grow beyond the money? The round comes from both traditional and web3-focused VCs. Investors include Unshackled Ventures, executives from GoldenTree Asset Management (a $46bn credit-focused fund), Flori Ventures (Celo-focused fund), GSR, Decentranet, Intersect VC, Lateral Capital, Peer VC, Alves Ventures, and several angel investors in the fintech/blockchain space including Louis Beryl (founder of Earnest), Gustavo Menezes (24hr of Le Mans Driver for Peugeot Sport), and Jacob Riglin; a high-profile NFT artist who will be launching future NFT-collateralized loan products. What does your company offer today? And what do you think it will provide in the future? Masa Finance provides a simple user experience through which people can link, manage, and track traditional and cryptocurrency accounts to create a non-fungible credit report - allowing access to credit through fully on-chain services. You can think of the user experience as credit karma for DeFi in the first version of the app. Underpinning this, Masa’s credit protocol comprises a decentralized credit bureau, a private transaction layer, and an embedded lending protocol consisting of a non-fungible credit report, composable credit primitives, smart contracts, and liquidity pools, enabling developers to launch sophisticated credit products in DeFi to match the existing centralized credit paradigm. At launch, Masa supports over 10,000 data sources across 78 countries through traditional financial data integrations with Credit Bureaus, Banks, and Fintechs; aggregated together with global cryptocurrency coverage through exchange integrations, Masa unlocks a market of 2.97B people through its credit infrastructure. We have several partners ready to provide liquidity and loan products within the app; including , , and . Masa will be the first DeFi platform to offer uncollateralized loans through  partners in the US, Canada, and sub-Saharan-Africa. Goldfinch Blackcopper EQ Exchange What differentiates your product and/or offering from competitors? Masa’s mission is to bring the next billion people to DeFi by bringing data from off-chain financial data and cryptocurrency accounts together on-chain. The platform offers a seamless user experience through which anyone can link, manage, and track their CeFi and DeFi accounts. By giving users the ability to create and leverage a new decentralized NFT credit report, Masa can create a decentralized credit score and unlock access to uncollateralized loans and other tailor-made financial products through fully on-chain DeFi services. In laymen’s terms, how do you plan on spending the money? We are focusing on expanding our senior team by finding the highest performing people who want to work in a decentralized organization (DAO) - this includes roles across engineering, growth, and operations. Given the scale of the vision we have, finding highly experienced engineers is critical. We have just hired a Head of People Operations to drive culture, recruiting, and performance across the organization. With the pre-seed behind us, and with our first partners going live we are raising a Seed Round to expand, and launch the DAO and the protocol's production release. Alongside this, we will conduct a public token sale and scale NFT credit reports and node operators If you want to work for a high-performing distributed team check out our open roles here (link). What’s exciting about your traction to date? And how do you plan on measuring growth going forward? Masa is building on Celo and Ethereum, has 36,000 people signed up to the platform, 8 partners going live in the Masa App, and 2,100+ node operators on its live testnet that supports zero-knowledge private transactions and private smart contracts. Masa has seen double-digit growth each month as we’ve started rolling out our platform into different markets. The first credit products launching on the protocol include a credit builder loan, uncollateralized loans, and an SME line of credit through its app in June. We are focusing on two main drivers for growth and adoption of the platform; the number of NFT credit reports, and the number of partners providing loans through the Masa App. These two components drive private transaction volume to the private zero-knowledge layer which we expect to see continued growth in node operators from the current number live on the testnet. What are your revenue expectations over the next three years? The Masa platform drives protocol revenues through transaction fees on the private transaction layer, fees on loans originated through the platform (the majority of which goes to funding providers), and referral fees for partner loans issued through the Masa App. These fees are shared with validators and node operators who stake tokens to verify and relay private transactions - a percentage of these fees also accumulate in the DAO treasury. As a DAO we are focused on driving adoption of the protocol layer that enables private transactions,increasing the value of the token which is staked by validators and the DAO treasury. Our ambition is to be a globally adopted layer 1 private transaction layer for the entire DeFi credit ecosystem - this means growing to be a multi-billion dollar protocol that drives value for validators and node operators. At launch Masa will have a significant DAO treasury that will secure the long-term growth of the protocol. The north star metric we use to measure  adoption is the number of users who have created NFT credit reports on the platform by connecting off-chain data sources on-chain. What is your TAM (Total Addressable Market)? And what is your strategy to acquire the maximum share of this market? 95% of all lending in DeFi is collateralized with a high barrier to entry. Existing DeFI lenders are building for a world that doesn’t yet. With our data partnerships and integration we support over 10,000 data sources in 78 countries which addresses a market of 2.97B people. We are on track to create 5 million NFT credit reports over the next 18 months and onboarding over 100 lenders to the platform. Long term we want to be the ubiquitous decentralized credit layer for DeFi which means onboarding billions of users globally. In your funding raising pitch deck, what is your favorite slide? My favorite slide addresses our go-to-market for the next 18 months and our ambition in taking on a massive market. It not only demonstrates how incredibly huge the credit market is but it also shows how massive Masa will be by bringing a small bite of the global credit pie to DeFi. If we want to take DeFi mainstream the lowest hanging fruit to me is offering open access to credit services. We are very early on in the growth of DeFi, there are only 4.6M active users. Masa has the opportunity to double the number of users of DeFI wallets over the next 18 months alone by providing them with an NFT credit report. At 5m NFT credit profiles this represents a strong step forward in our mission to bring the next billion people to DeFi. What problem are you solving? And Why is now the time for your company to solve this? 3.5 billion people worldwide do not have access to credit-building services. DeFi is creating an alternate universe of finance, commerce, investment, and sources of capital for DeFi lenders to serve more customers.  DeFi innovation will profoundly transform the global economy and disrupt industries. It is starting to reshape the way people borrow and save and is remaking banking as we know it. DeFi lending has a profound role to play in this transformation. Key benefits of DeFi include greater security, speed, lower costs, a wide range of services - giving more choice, and the ability to unlock financial freedom through crypto holdings. In addition to these accessibility problems developers have no middleware connecting traditional Finance with DeFI AND they can’t access encrypted (private) financial data for smart contracts. We solve for both. What are the potential risks to the business? i.e. technology, regulatory, incumbents, legal, etc. There are several hurdles to the mass adoption of DeFi. These include: Scalability – A sustainable DeFi ecosystem will likely consist of interoperable blockchains. Gas Fees – The issue of gas fees needs to be addressed to enable financial inclusion. We are building on Celo which is both mobile friendly and has low gas fees. Institutional Adoption – Mass institutional adoption will likely follow widespread consumer adoption. Utility – Most DeFi platforms in the space are building for a future that does not exist yet. We need a platform now that can serve and integrate core centralized banking systems and bridge them to DeFi. To overcome these obstacles, we need to educate consumers and institutions on the benefits of DeFi. Currently, there are many, particularly in developed countries, who are comfortable with the status quo. These mainstream users who do not have an immediate incentive to learn about new and complex protocols and the disruptive technology enabling it. We need them on board in order to accelerate mass adoption of DeFi and ultimately achieve financial inclusion. What intellectual and digital property does the company own? Or intend to build/own? i.e. patents, patents pending, copyrights, trade secrets, trademarks, domains, bored apes, etc. We are planning to open source all aspects of the protocol over time - this process will be governed by members of the DAO and will be done under the philosophy of progressive decentralization. Why should we think Masa could grow to the moon?! There is an undeniable need to extend credit to billions of underserved individuals around the world. Without fair access to credit people cannot build leverage and increase their personal wealth. The fundamentals of wealth creation hinge upon access to credit. The current system does not serve the many, it serves the few. As a credit invisible person in the US - having immigrated here and only having 5 years of credit history I know how big the barriers are for accessing credit if you are not born into the system. Masa will succeed because we are enabling a more equitable future that provides access to financial services to an underserved global population, one of the most overlooked segments by traditional finance. Unlocking this market segment and aligning incentives through DeFi will drive massive growth of our platform. We will be the credit bureau (credit DAO) of the future, owned by all participants - not one central entity.

Q&A with Brendan Playford, Founder of Masa Finance

At the buzzing EthDenver, which attracted from 120+ countries, I had the pleasure of speaking to , the co-founder of and President of the Celo Foundation. We delved into the latest advancements at Celo, notably its ongoing transition from an EVM-compatible Layer 1 to an Ethereum Layer 2. over 20,000 attendees Rene Reinsberg Celo Celo is recognized for its initiatives that extend beyond technology, such as empowering builders in the Global South and contributing to regenerative finance (ReFi) projects, which reflect its broader mission for social impact within the blockchain ecosystem. This is what we talked about. Rene, we’re at EthDenver! How are you feeling? The energy is fantastic. What I really enjoy about events, and I find this particularly true in Denver, is the random encounters. I make it a point not to schedule my day too tightly so I can spend time at the booth and meet builders who come up to say hello. That's always a highlight. I've seen a lot of newcomers here this year who are just coming into the Web3 space. At some of the conferences last year, it felt like we saw the same group of people sticking it out through the bear market. Now, there seems to be a new wave of builders bringing fresh ideas, which is exciting! Do you see the narratives around blockchain and impact evolving, too? Absolutely! There are two main directions: enhancing existing solutions within the traditional financial (TradFi) system and introducing entirely new ideas. So, first, with real-world assets (RWAs) and tokenized on-chain assets, many innovations that might have seemed more hypothetical a few years ago are now feasible. For example, one idea is to create a better market infrastructure to fund carbon removal projects. Web3 is great for this because it's transparent and leverages decentralized markets. It's somewhat similar to traditional infrastructure but also improves upon it. Then, some ideas look not just at replicating existing systems but also trying something completely new. For instance, Celo uses a portion of transaction fees for positive climate action. This concept, which we call “ ,” wasn’t possible before web3. Now, we can build positive climate action into each transaction on the network. Ultragreen Money How has everything been going for Celo since its announcement to transition to layer two on Ethereum? This was a proposal that the core team at put forward last summer, and it was met with huge excitement—more than anyone had anticipated. It was discussed within the community over the years, but it finally became feasible for Celo to retain its unique benefits like low transaction fees, which are crucial for micropayments, and to support the use cases we have on Celo, such as community currencies and credit. cLabs It’s a great chance to bring the “magic of Celo” to the broader Ethereum ecosystem and be a much more active collaborator and contributor. Many of our projects either originate from the Ethereum community or align closely with its values, so there's a lot of enthusiasm for bringing these worlds closer together. On top of that, I see Celo as an engine for integrating more users, particularly mobile users, into the Ethereum ecosystem and introducing them to web3. It has been a win for both parties and an incredibly fun journey! Could you share some strategies Celo employs to foster financial inclusion globally? Absolutely! The first step is creating accessible infrastructure, aiming for a world where everyone can easily access a web3 wallet on their phone without using much bandwidth. The goal is to enable easy cash-in and cash-out options to local currencies through mobile money or preferred methods, ideally at no cost. This foundational infrastructure is vital for enabling various use cases on top of Celo and has been a core focus not only for the team at the Celo Foundation but for the entire ecosystem. There's still much work to be done with on- and off-ramping, which is a massive undertaking. But it’s very encouraging to see around 100 projects across the globe all contributing different pieces of the puzzle. From companies facilitating mobile money onramps in the Philippines to those working on local stablecoins (e.g., ), these efforts are crucial for providing the basic infrastructure, ideally on mobile and with low fees, like the tenths of a cent seen on Celo. Mento What's happening now is people recognizing this infrastructure, realizing they can launch microcredit protocols, provide loans in local currency thanks to local currency stablecoins, and so on. This can be connected to the global financial system, still largely dominated by dollar stablecoins, through a series of DeFi primitives that facilitate this end-to-end flow. For example, a financial institution in the US or Europe could deploy capital that becomes a loan in local currency in someone's noncustodial wallet—a concept we could only dream of a few years back, but it's now becoming a reality. The challenge ahead is scaling this from thousands of businesses and hundreds of thousands of individuals to millions or even billions. Each transaction carries the potential for positive climate action—almost seamless for the user. This regenerative aspect is something we're keen to amplify as the platform grows, and I believe it will soon be reflected in the data showing the significant impact of transactions on Celo across various use cases like commerce, payments, and lending. Regenerative finance had its moment last year, but then people moved on to other shiny things. I think it’s going to come back, though, not just because it’s a great concept but because we’re starting to see real results. Celo is currently at 6,445 tons of CO2 offsets, and with more economic activity in our network, that number could grow significantly. We can now really tap into the collective power of web3, where everyone can participate and work together on these big, important goals. So, how else does Celo measure its success in terms of impact? Ultimately, a chain's success boils down to the economic activity it facilitates, which is a function of the transactions being processed. But it’s also about how the overall economic activity aligns with the use cases we value. We're particularly thrilled about use cases like microcredit protocols, but at the end of the day, Celo is permissionless, so anyone can build anything. And even a game on Celo can have a positive impact. But I do see our focus evolving. We're here at the EthDenver BUIDLathon, and we run our own virtual “Build With Celo” hackathons. Often, someone will come up and say, “I really want to build this thing, but I'm missing this piece or that.” This then leads to a conversation around, “Okay, maybe we know someone who can help with this, or we can connect the dots and make some of these things happen faster.” So, can we empower the ecosystem to build what they want to build? That’s our key measure of success. I’m based in Colombia, where the Celo community is huge! You've done a great job establishing a presence in some of the emerging economies. What has that been like? Colombia is a prime example! There's currently a proposal for a in the forum. Just yesterday, I was talking to , a community member here, who was explaining how this could unlock a lot of local activity, especially in terms of credit, since people are looking to take out loans in their local currency. Colombian peso stablecoin Juan There's also , a credit protocol on Celo in Colombia that's quite impactful. It's facilitating loans for individuals to finance motorbikes, enabling them to generate income as Rappi delivery drivers. Roda At the end of the day, it's all about engaging with community members and understanding their needs to unlock further growth. Starting small and iterating is key, but eventually, you encounter certain barriers at the ecosystem level. Overcoming these can significantly scale the impact and take things to a much larger scale. That's beautiful! On a personal note, what are you most proud of with Celo? Honestly, getting into web3, it’s tough to fully grasp the power of open collaboration. We knew we wanted to create an open, permissionless infrastructure for others to explore and collaborate with us. But it's not something you can just plan out. You can't say, “We're going to launch a protocol and then expect thousands of builders to come and do their thing.” It just doesn't work like that. Looking back six, seven years ago, if you had asked me what Celo would look like in 2024, I would have significantly underestimated the variety of products and their impact because I would have based my assumptions on what a single company could achieve. So, I'm most proud of the rich ecosystem that has emerged, filled with ideas, some of which I wasn't even aware of, but all made possible by Celo. If I had to highlight a more recent example, it would be Opera’s . They've done an incredible job and developed this product in-house, integrating a wallet into the browser that requires very low bandwidth. MiniPay It's really easy to use—you don't need to know anything about crypto. What I'm most proud of is that it was enabled by a series of ecosystem projects that, over the last few years, have created the conditions for this product to exist. This is partly due to Celo's distinct features. For example, gas abstraction allows gas fees to be paid in stablecoins, simplifying transactions. Tools like and let users send payments to phone numbers in a secure, trustless way, streamlining the process of entering and exiting the markets where Opera is active. SocialConnect FiatConnect So, it's fair to say Minipay benefits from the collective efforts of the entire ecosystem, standing on the shoulders of what might be considered “tiny giants.” This is exciting because, in the spirit of web3, each successful product not only stands on its own but also elevates other products or protocols it's integrated with. Minipay’s growing popularity has had a ripple effect, significantly boosting engagement with some OG Celo protocols, such as , which has seen a huge inflow of new users. impactMarket Looking into the future, what are you most excited about? I would come back to web3 as a toolkit for mass coordination, particularly around some pressing problems like financial inclusion and climate change. But its potential extends to many other areas. For example, people in the ecosystem are now thinking about decentralized science (DeSci). Imagine if millions of people are connected through a wallet in a certain country. Could you leverage that to bootstrap development funding for a drug specific to that community? Big pharma today might ignore this because it is a small market or is not worth the investment. The infrastructure is there, and it enables a whole set of new use cases far beyond what we could ever imagine. So, in short, I’m excited about the things I don’t know yet. Every day, every week, every step we take, we get further along in having an infrastructure that is just so widely useful for coordinating people around these issues that would otherwise be hard to solve.

An Interview With Rene Reinsberg: On EthDenver, Regenerative Finance, and Celo Ecosystem Growth

The Noonification: Reviewing Celo, The Carbon-Negative, Mobile-first Blockchain (12/22/2023)

*Note: a SWOT analysis is an evaluation of the fundamental, operational, technical, social, economic, and even to some degree administrative elements of a project. This is not a model to be used for trading purposes. (NFA, DYOR) Composed of four elements, Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats, a SWOT analysis framework provides excellent insight for establishing a high-level understanding of the state of a project’s well-being through the lens of a birds-eye view. It can help formulate decisions around which areas require more attention, set performance goals, and organize a foundational understanding of where a project is headed. Rarely (if ever) used in crypto, it is time to apply this timeless method of evaluation to the digital asset space. Today, Celo (CELO), the carbon-negative, mobile-first blockchain dedicated to “creating conditions of prosperity for all” through regenerative finance, will get a SWOT. 💪 Strengths (Internal) (Helpful) 1. REFI Positioning A combination of DEFI and social good, regenerative finance is a movement that taps into ecological benefits to society and/or the environment. No network has remotely as much of the intellectual mindshare around innovations happening in this space as Celo. Affiliating itself with social good from launch, Celo has become the host of today’s leading projects, including Toucan, Kolektivo, Flowcarbon, Gooddollar, Glo Dollar, Impact Market, and others. Considering how underserved and under explored REFI has been as a whole, there is no upper bound to model the potential returns this as a sector can attract during the seasonal capital shuffling. 2. On-Chain Metrics Blossoming After a painful bear market and drawn-out winter, the seasons have shifted, and the on-chain metrics have thawed. Celo has been showing strong, sustainable growth across the board. DAA (Daily Active Addresses) have been going parabolic since May 2023, rallying from 5k in December 2022 to around 200k exactly 1 year later, a clean 40x. Total addresses jumped from 1.5m to ~4m (a notable 2.67x). TVL has begun ticking up from ~$80m to ~$120m. Total amount of active, verified, smart contracts steadily rising beyond 33,000. Daily transactions have rebounded from their painful lows of around 100k per day earlier this year to around 400k now, and no signs of slowing down. 3. Focus on Stablecoin Payments Many people underestimate how still nascent and small crypto is relative to the enormous economic markets it is tackling. Remaining one of the largest financial sectors ripe for disruption, payments are tightly correlated with stablecoins, and stablecoins are tightly correlated with real commercial/retail adoption; therefore, the use case and value proposition that Celo is pursuing have universal appeal. Moreover, having a concrete vision and a clear market to innovate around does not receive enough recognition. The vast majority of alternative layer 1’s lack focus and try too hard to become the ultimate generalized solutions that can support every exotic use case under the degen sun. Celo can allocate its resources and efforts more efficiently and not waste time on things such as Memecoins. This is not to say memecoins are bad, just highlighting the nature of the project. 4. Network of Validators Home to 110 validator nodes, owned by 78 independent entities, including some of the most significant Web2 technology companies on the plant, such as Google Cloud, Deutsche Telekom, Telefonica, et al., as well as some of the most well-known crypto and Web3 entities such as Binance, Polychain Capital, Blockdaemon, and others; Celo has the material support from a set of validators many dream of. 5. One Block Finality A common area of concern in the context of public blockchain infrastructure, finality has become a definitive factor in the design preferences of financial institutions around the world. As it relates to retail finance, the quicker the finality, the more confidence the users have with their transactions, the more likely they are to return and use the product again. Celo has always had this at the front of mind in their operations. This “immediate” finality structure mitigates reorgs (something infinitely valuable at the enterprise level) and was possibly an important factor in Celo being able to build powerful relationships with legacy Web2 conglomerates. 6. Finite CELO Supply Inflation Launching with 60% (600m) of the total token supply circulating (depending on how it’s measured), Celo has an extremely smooth emission model to release the remaining 40% (400m) of tokens over the course of 30 years (ending in 2050). At the end of the emissions, the token supply model would, in fact, become slightly deflationary due to the transaction burns. Moreover, the emissions are primarily allocated to community building and validator/staking incentives, which means they would potentially foster economically resilient networks of aligned actors. This is, of course, in addition to the most sensitive benefit of balancing the impacts of dilution on existing/early participants. 7. Transaction Fee Payments While most major blockchains constantly deal with the friction of forcing participants to acquire native tokens in order to interact with the networks, Celo has introduced semi-agnostic network fee payments, allowing transactions to be paid for in any of the approved alternative assets. Opting for such a model seems counterintuitive as it would defeat the existential purpose of the gas token itself; however, it is not unlikely that this friendliness translates to a higher degree of adoption. By having multi-asset fee payments, the network can, in fact, help bolster asset velocity and become economically intertwined with other projects. 😞 Weaknesses (Internal) (Harmful) 1. Gingerbread Identity Crises Celo used to distinguish itself in the marketplace by playing the role of an independent, EVM-compatible Layer 1 blockchain network focused on mobile clients and payments (aka stablecoins). Recently, however, the project has embarked on a technical restructuring (known as the “Gingerbread” hard fork) to transition into an extension of the Ethereum ecosystem by becoming an OP-stack-based Layer 2. Even though this action was enforced by the community itself through a governance proposal, such a fundamental pivot can result in organizational chaos, which, if untamed, can result in the collapse of interest. If the project built its community on a specific set of fundamental beliefs and those beliefs change, it runs the risk of alienating previous members. 2. Low Network Earning vs MCAP Validator earnings is a theme that plagues all low-fee, high-throughput layer 1 networks. Earnings are established based on how much validators accrue from transaction fees. Considering that most transactions on Celo are below <$0.001 and only a small portion of them are paid to validators, it comes as no surprise that the CELO network posted annual earnings around sub <$50,000 USD. When weighed against its floating capitalization of $324,577,949, we arrive at a ratio of 6,500:1. To be totally fair, as an individual metric to gauge a cryptocurrency’s “fair value,” this is incomplete, but can certainly be used as a component in building a more complete picture. 🧐 Opportunities (External) (Helpful) 1. Low DEFI Diversity Currently sitting at just three (3) with Mento, Curve, and Uniswap controlling over 90% of Celo’s total DEFI TVL, the decentralized financial scene on Celo is craving development. Of natively built Celo solutions, only Mento has any material relevance with its some odd 60 million collateralized stablecoins minted; otherwise, the leading DEX is non-native, lending markets are effectively non-existent, and no derivatives/perps built on it. Young projects looking to gain center stage in an ecosystem and old-timers looking to expand to new horizons would find Celo a pleasant opportunity due to its lack of competition and EVM compatibility. It is almost certain that over the course of the next 12–24 months, this balance will change; the projects that rise to capture market share will bring abundance to the Celo social sphere. 2. Gingerbread Hard Fork Activated at the End of Q3 as the initiation of Celo’s techno-economic restructuring, Gingerbread is a 2-phase process that will transform the network from an independent EVM-compatible Layer 1 to an ETH-aligned Layer 2. Introducing a multitude of changes, including the principle of “Ultragreen Money,” which will adjust the transaction mechanism to burn 80% of fees and funnel 20% towards a Carbon offset Fund. Supercharging finality guarantees with a second layer of security derived from the Ethereum epochs (so finality within Celo itself and the finality of its Data on Ethereum). Leveraging the OP-stack for its execution and EigenDA for posting its activity engenders Celo to both of those ecosystems, which could translate into powerful network effects. The existing validators will have their roles shift into sequencers, which would make Celo the first L2 to have a truly decentralized sequencer set. 3. Support from Ethereum Ecosystem By aligning itself with Ethereum, it seems more likely than not that many reputable protocols will extend operations over to Celo, especially when considering the extremely high level of compatibility that will be present. Already getting public praise from prominent members Vitalik and Joseph Lubin for their innovations, lending protocol AAVE has announced that it will be coming to Celo, bringing with it the mature infrastructure and stakeholder set already prevalent across many EVM-compatible networks. 😳 Threats (External) (Harmful) 1. DEFI Centralization With just 3 protocols controlling over 90% of the TVL on Celo, the ecosystem is at risk of over-concentrated protocols that disincentivize new competitors. Liquidity is highly reflexive; where there is liquidity, more shall flow; where there is little, it shall dry over time. Certainly, the argument can be made that centralization counteracts fragmentation and increases market efficiencies, but having a high degree of reliance on a small group of actors introduces unwanted risks for Celo itself. Without stimulating competition, new ideas will not make their way to Celo and instead be attracted to more conducive environments. 2. Weak Social Presence CELO does not have the ravaging maniacal die-hard community members or social presence common to most L1s. Even though this quaintness might seem understandable from the perspective of enterprise participants, those raw savage human emotions that drive market hype cycles through peek euphoria and keep it alive in the depths of winter are the foundation of markets. By not cultivating this kind of culture, it is only a matter of time until the projects that do capture all the creative imaginations and attract more users. Meme’s matter. Takeaway: Laying closer to the centralized side of Web3, Celo is a polished environment that emphasizes cooperation, coordination, and goodwill without degen tribalism. Carbon neutrality, prosperity, cooperation, and a smorgasbord of other ESG-conscious, purpose-driven material is woven throughout all of its branding and content. While generally tucked away from the average retail participant, Celo has received a lot of support and recognition from renowned industry insiders, including Vitalik Buterin, Sreeram Kannan, Joseph Lubin, et al., for its technical decisions, as well as operational integrations with global megacorps such as Kickstarter and Google Cloud. Conclusion: Fostering environmental well-being, supercharging capitalism with the narrative to become a tool for social good, and delicately balancing financial innovation, Celo is an intellectually stimulating project that has put considerable effort into distinguishing itself from others and defining its product market fit. In the unique position of abandoning its original architecture in hopes of reinvigorating market interest with technology, Celo has become an interesting project to watch, if not for price, then as a case study on the merits of such fundamental structural changes. One simply cannot fade the long-term potential of Celo. Thank you so much for reading, I hope this serves you well on your journey. Live long and prosper 🥂 Also published . here

Reviewing Celo, The Carbon-Negative, Mobile-first Blockchain

সেলো, কার্বন-নেতিবাচক, মোবাইল-প্রথম ব্লকচেইন পর্যালোচনা করা হচ্ছে

Überprüfung von Celo, der CO2-negativen, Mobile-First-Blockchain

Revisión de Celo, la cadena de bloques móvil y con emisiones negativas de carbono

Examen de Celo, la blockchain à carbone négatif et axée sur le mobile

सेलो, कार्बन-नेगेटिव, मोबाइल-फर्स्ट ब्लॉकचेन की समीक्षा

Celo のレビュー、カーボンネガティブ、モバイルファーストのブロックチェーン

탄소 배출 제로, 모바일 우선 블록체인 Celo 검토

Revendo Celo, o blockchain móvel com carbono negativo e primeiro

Обзор Celo, углеродно-отрицательного блокчейна, ориентированного на мобильные устройства

Karbon Negatif, Mobil Öncelikli Blockchain Celo'yu İncelemek

Đánh giá Celo, Blockchain tiêu cực, ưu tiên thiết bị di động

回顾 Celo，碳负、移动优先的区块链

During dAppcon, a , I had a chance to talk to Rene Reinsberg, founder of Celo. recent conference in Berlin A little background on Celo Celo (meaning “purpose” in esperanto) is a VC-backed project aiming to bring financial services to the unbanked through its own smart contract platform (Celo is a fork of Ethereum). Having already more than $30M, Celo’s main goal is a financial inclusion through easy-to-use stablecoins and a mobile-first approach toward user adoption. Celo Gold is the reserve and governance currency of the protocol - it serves as a proof-of-stake asset and also as one of the backing assets in the stablecoin reserve basket. raised The Interview : Rene, let’s start by giving me the Celo pitch. What’s your ambition with the project? : We started working on Celo about two years ago. We saw a massive gap in terms of the user experience, particularly ease of use of cryptocurrencies. We see cryptocurrencies as a technology that can advance an access to financial products and services, particularly in the developing world. Celo brings a lightweight decentralized identity system which maps hashes of phone numbers to wallets, thereby anyone can send and receive payments based on their phone number.  That greatly reduces the friction as one no longer needs to fiddle with public keys and the user experience is much more similar to Square’s Cash App or Venmo. It also serves as an entry point to a digital identity. We feel the identity part is quite important, as not having any official identity also means not having any credit score and no access to financial products like loans. Also while we were doing our initial research, we realized that people in developing markets were really excited about Bitcoin, but they were also concerned about its volatility - when it comes to payment use case; it’s really powerful as a store of value, of course. : You are developing a stablecoin. How will you ensure the peg holds? How does Celo’s approach compare to existing stablecoins like DAI or planned stablecoins like libra? : First of all, we don’t see any single currency taking over the world and being used everywhere. On the contrary, we see a rich ecology of many different currencies; some of them may look like traditional currencies like euros or dollars, others may be more local or function-specific currencies. We see a much richer ecosystem of currencies which can more accurately map to people’s needs and the societies they live in. Right now we see mostly that stablecoins are backed by what they represent - dollar stablecoins backed by dollars in bank accounts. We separate those two so that the representation and the backing are unrelated. Stablecoins on our platform are overcollateralized, similar to Maker. We use a basket of multiple crypto assets including our own reserve asset, Celo Gold. Through onchain governance, it's possible to introduce additional stablecoins. We foresee a creation of Celo Peso or a stablecoin pegged to the economy in Berlin. All the stablecoins will be backed by the shared reserve - there are nice properties coming out of that from the stability perspective. For anyone interested, we published a describing these properties in more detail. : So if I understand correctly there’s a shared pool of assets backing various stablecoins on the Celo platform. Who decides what kind of assets get to be in the basket? : In the long-term the rebalancing of the cryptoassets in the reserve basket will happen purely onchain through onchain governance. But so far we don’t have the tools to make that viable, so in the short-term, the rebalancing of the reserve basket will be done manually. : Could you go into more detail about the Celo architecture and what role does the Celo gold play? : Celo is a fork of geth, so architecturally you could think of Celo Gold as an equivalent of ETH and the stablecoins as an equivalent of ERC-20. Gas costs on Celo can be paid in stablecoins, which reduces the complexity for the users. Celo is running on permissionless Istanbul BFT, meaning it’s a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. The key characteristics of Celo are the identity and stability protocols, but we are also keeping the EVM compatibility, so it’s very easy to deploy Ethereum apps on top of Celo. : Could you describe the redeeming mechanism? How can the holder of Celo stablecoin get the underlying asset? KryptoJoseph (KJ) Rene Reinsberg (RR) KJ RR stability white paper KJ RR KJ RR KJ : Celo stablecoins are crypto-collateralized, so it’s not a straightforward process like with fiat-based stablecoins. But we still wanted the holders to have an option to redeem. What we came up with is an integration of an exchange directly into the protocol. The exchange is a Uniswap-style constant-product exchange with Celo Gold / Celo dollar as the initial trading pair. Stablecoin holders can always exchange 1 Celo dollar for 1 US dollar worth of Celo gold and the other way around. We have described the mechanism in more detail . : When is Celo launching? : We launched our testnet and SDK recently. We adopted a mobile-first approach to development, since many of our potential end users are just on mobile devices. Most of today’s dApps are web-based, but with our SDK, anyone can build a truly native mobile app that is running on fully decentralized infrastructure. : Do you plan a business development targeting any specific countries or regions in the developing world? : The team building Celo mainly seems itself providing the infrastructure and providing the resources and support for others  to build the applications, which is also why we launched the SDK as one of the first things. Some of the first use cases that we think that would work really well on our platform are things like institutional cash transfer programs. We’ve had several organizations already reach out to us with the intention to try the platform. For example, launch an universal basic income pilot in Liberia. There’s a lot of research showing that cash transfers are the best way of providing aid, but given that a lot of potential recipients don’t have bank accounts or any access to financial services, the operational challenges and costs of running these programs are quite high. So the idea with Celo as the underlying infrastructure for running these programs is that you only have to know the recipients’ phone numbers and you can distribute the payments. Cash transfers can also be done more frequently and in smaller payments. It’s fast, secure and with lower transaction fees. Once there is an active user base, it’s going to be very interesting to start building the DeFi stack on top, to provide an access to loans and other financial services. The loans provided may be small, for example for $10 only, but the impact of such microloans is huge in the developing countries. RR on our blog KJ RR KJ RR we’re helping Give Directly Read the Celo whitepaper here . Read about a16z's motivation to invest in Celo here . Follow Rene at https://twitter.com/followrene . . Follow me at https://twitter.com/KryptoJoseph

Interview with Rene Reinsberg, founder of Celo

There’s a man in Quezon City who’s walked the same four-block scrap route for over a decade. No ID. No payroll. But everyone on that street knows him. He’s the one who always shows up. He knows which households throw out copper. Which mornings have better yield. Which buyers underreport weight. He’s an informal economist in flip flops, a master of urban logistics, running on instinct and sweat. But if he gets hit by a truck tomorrow, no system will remember he ever existed. But if he gets hit by a truck tomorrow, no system will remember he ever existed. Multiply him by 20 million. That’s the global informal waste workforce. Coordinating without apps. Surviving without systems and operating critical infrastructure for cities that don’t acknowledge them. Multiply him by 20 million. global informal waste workforce This is the invisible backbone of the urban economy. And it has no record. And it has no record. And it has no record. The Cost of Being Unrecorded The Cost of Being Unrecorded Trash collectors show up every day. Rain, heat, rats. Doesn’t matter. They work. But because no one tracks it, no one counts it. And if no one counts it, nothing else follows. nothing else follows. No bank will touch them. No landlord will trust them. No government will say, “You’ve earned anything at all.” A man can pick up trash for ten years and still be denied a loan—because the system says he’s done nothing. No button says “verify effort”, no checkbox for “lifted 10 tons of metal with bare hands.” A man can pick up trash for ten years and still be denied a loan—because the system says he’s done nothing. And so the cycle holds: You do the labor. The world forgets. You start over again. You start over again. Blockchain Said It Was Built for This. What Happened Was The Opposite. Blockchain Said It Was Built for This. What Happened Was The Opposite. Crypto made promises: Bank the unbanked. Serve the trustless. Remember the forgotten. Instead, it mostly gave us cartoon auctions and self-referential tokenomics. Proof-of-work became a GPU contest. Proof-of-stake turned into who showed up rich. DAOs became Discord clubs run by mods with multisigs. Meanwhile, the people with no ID, no credit, and no system? Still off-chain. Still unverified. Still invisible. Blockchain didn’t get a bad rep because it aimed too low. Maybe it forgot to look down. Blockchain didn’t get a bad rep because it aimed too low. Maybe it forgot to look down. Blockchain didn’t get a bad rep because it aimed too low. Maybe it forgot to look down. Blockchain didn’t get a bad rep because it aimed too low. Maybe it forgot to look down. Waste Is Already Decentralized—But It Can’t Grow Without Proof Waste Is Already Decentralized—But It Can’t Grow Without Proof There’s no company, no contract, no bosses. Just people who show up, know their routes and move what no one else will. Self-coordination? Yes.


Peer enforcement? Absolutely.


Reputation-based access? It’s all they’ve got.


Incentives? Survival-level aligned. Self-coordination? Yes. Self-coordination? Yes. Yes. Peer enforcement? Absolutely. Peer enforcement? Absolutely. Absolutely. Reputation-based access? It’s all they’ve got. Reputation-based access? It’s all they’ve got. It’s all they’ve got. Incentives? Survival-level aligned. Incentives? Survival-level aligned. Survival-level aligned. It runs like a DAO—minus one thing: the ledger. And that’s the problem. It runs like a DAO—minus one thing: the ledger. And that’s the problem. It runs like a DAO—minus one thing: the ledger. And that’s the problem. Even though this operation is ruthlessly efficient, it can’t grow. No logs, no trail, and no compounding value. Every effort disappears by morning. Nothing lasts. Even though this operation is ruthlessly efficient, it can’t grow. Nothing lasts. That’s not failure; it’s what happens when no one writes it down. it’s what happens when no one writes it down. it’s what happens when no one writes it down. The Garbage DAO: A Protocol For The Smelly The Garbage DAO: A Protocol For The Smelly No app, no marketplace. This protocol does one thing: it remembers the labor the world forgot. This protocol does one thing: it remembers the labor the world forgot. A system so small, so resilient, so boring—it outlasts everything. It’s a machine for remembering effort and finally lets that work compound into something more than sweat. A system so small, so resilient, so boring—it outlasts everything. It’s a machine for remembering effort and finally lets that work compound into something more than sweat. It’s a machine for remembering effort What It Has To Survive What It Has To Survive This system has no startup runway, no, onboarding flow, and absolutely zero margin for error. So it has to work when: • You have no signal • Your phone is dying • You share your device with three other people • The scrapyard doesn’t know what blockchain is • Someone’s trying to spoof the system • And nobody cares about the tech This protocol assumes chaos is the norm, not the outlier. assumes chaos What It Has To Deliver What It Has To Deliver If it can’t do all five of these, it’s not worth building: 1. A way to log work without friction 2. A way to verify work happened, sometimes without the need of another human being present 3. A way to tie that work to reputation 4. A way to trigger payout 5. A way to let that record grow into power And it has to do all of it without the collector knowing what “blockchain” means. without the collector knowing what “blockchain” means. 1. Collection Layer — No App, No Problem 1. Collection Layer — No App, No Problem The collector picks up the trash. They log it with whatever they have: • Snap a photo • Scan a QR code • Send an SMS code from a dumbphone No apps. No account creation. Just a trace. The action stays the same. The difference is: now it counts. The action stays the same. The difference is: now it counts. 2. Verification Layer — No Co-Sign, No Coin 2. Verification Layer — No Co-Sign, No Coin Spoofing is real. Trust is fragile. So every pickup needs a co-signature: • Peer + peer • Collector + buyer • Collector + sensor (weight, NFC tag, timestamped bin) This two-party validation locks down credibility without needing a single KYC’d identity. Sybil resistance based on sweat, not social tokens. Sybil resistance based on sweat 3. Storage Layer — Logs Don’t Die When The WiFi Does 3. Storage Layer — Logs Don’t Die When The WiFi Does Logs get stored locally—on-device, kiosk, or even printed QR. They’re batched and synced when signal comes back. Then they’re pushed: • To IPFS or Arweave for permanence • Then anchored to a low-fee chain (Polygon, Celo, Solana—whatever works locally) This isn’t built for uptime. It’s built to fail gracefully, and still remember the work. It’s built to fail gracefully, and still remember the work. 4. Reward Layer — Trash In. Tokens Out. 4. Reward Layer — Trash In. Tokens Out. Once a log is verified, the collector gets paid. Not someday. Not after approval. Automatically, in something like SpaceCoin. The coin of choice should be: Automatically, in something like SpaceCoin. • Stable, programmable, and designed for real-world use • Works across wallets, SMS relays, and low-friction interfaces • Spendable as food credit, airtime, or local cash-out • No volatility. No speculation. Just payout. Labor needs to meet liquidity near instantaneously, or these scavengers are out. liquidity near instantaneously, or these scavengers are out. 5. Reputation Layer — A Resume You Can’t Fake 5. Reputation Layer — A Resume You Can’t Fake Every verified pickup earns non-transferable tokens: non-transferable tokens • Soulbound to a wallet or device • Logged with timestamp, zone, and co-signature • Impossible to fake at scale, impossible to transfer This becomes your reputation collateral. Not for status, but for trust to: reputation collateral • Get higher-paying routes • Settle disputes • Represent zones in governance • Trigger faster payouts If the system forgets you, you’re no one. If it remembers you, you matter. This layer turns memory into economic leverage. This layer turns memory into economic leverage. This layer turns memory into economic leverage. 6. Governance Layer — No Sweat, No Seat 6. Governance Layer — No Sweat, No Seat You can’t outsource governance for a system like this. Governments can’t manage it—they don’t know who’s working or where. Corporations won’t—they don’t see a business model. NGOs try—but they leave when the grant ends. The only people qualified to govern this protocol are the ones who keep it alive. The only people qualified to govern this protocol are the ones who keep it alive. Because they know: • Who’s hauling and who’s faking it • Which routes matter and which ones are pointless • What’s broken, what’s working, and what no whitepaper ever predicted So the protocol says: fine. If you’ve shown up a hundred times, you decide how the next hundred work: If you’ve shown up a hundred times, you decide how the next hundred work: • You stake your rep to claim new zones • You vote with tokens earned through sweat, not speculation • You fix what’s broken—because you’re the one living with it This isn’t “decentralized governance” as idealism. A DAO is the only structure that matches the system’s lived complexity. And if someone’s picking up trash at 3am while the rest of the city pretends it doesn’t exist—they deserve more say than anyone watching from a dashboard. This isn’t “decentralized governance” as idealism. A DAO is the only structure that matches the system’s lived complexity. And if someone’s picking up trash at 3am while the rest of the city pretends it doesn’t exist—they deserve more say than anyone watching from a dashboard. they deserve more say than anyone watching from a dashboard. 7. Treasury Layer — Proof Brings the Payouts 7. Treasury Layer — Proof Brings the Payouts Nobody funds potential anymore. They fund receipts. Once every pickup is logged, verified, and priced—cleanup becomes an asset. That’s when the money comes in: receipts cleanup becomes an asset. • ESG budgets need proof of environmental impact • Cities want pay-per-performance waste contracts • Climate funds will pay to remove plastic and offset carbon • Brands will sponsor zones—if they can prove the work happened But none of them want to wire money to a nonprofit promising to do good. They want verifiable guarantees, priced by the bag. They want verifiable guarantees, priced by the bag. That’s what the treasury delivers. It holds funds in something like SpaceCoin, releases payouts automatically, and logs every transaction—public, permanent, auditable. The more cleanup gets verified, the more capital flows in. Not as charity. As purchase. SpaceCoin Not as charity. As purchase. And for the first time, the more waste disappears, the harder it is to ignore who made it happen. And for the first time, the more waste disappears, the harder it is to ignore who made it happen. And for the first time, the more waste disappears, the harder it is to ignore who made it happen. The Market Everyone Missed The Market Everyone Missed This wasn’t a product waiting to be invented. It was a market already in motion. Decentralized. High volume. Global. All it lacked was a ledger. All it lacked was a ledger. And no one in tech thought to build one. Not because it didn’t make sense—but because it didn’t look like a startup. It looked like labor. It reeked of rot. It had maggots. And that was enough for everyone to look away. And that was enough for everyone to look away. And that was enough for everyone to look away. Redemption In Rubbish Redemption In Rubbish Web3’s reputation crisis doesn’t come from the tech. That’s always been fine. It just got pointed at pixelated monkeys and governance tokens for apps with seven users and nine multisigs. Maybe redemption doesn’t come building for the future, but for filth. The one that lives behind your supermarket at 3am, where the air burns, and the bags leak. Maybe redemption doesn’t come building for the future, but for filth. The one that lives behind your supermarket at 3am, where the air burns, and the bags leak. This is a chance to earn both kinds of street cred: This is a chance to earn both kinds of street cred: The kind that smells. The kind that smells. And the kind Wall Street takes seriously. And the kind Wall Street takes seriously.

Proof Of Waste: Why the Blockchain Belongs In The Dumpster

A Circular economy is the new big thing. Why? As our planet has finite resources, sustainable manufacturing practices are inevitable. Organizations that excel in processing "already processed" materials can position themselves as pioneers in innovative manufacturing, achieving higher profit margins while doing so. From a business perspective, the proposition is compelling: extracting substantial value from low-cost, end-of-life materials that would otherwise be discarded. Consequently, we are witnessing a surge in businesses that specialize in recycling, upcycling, and downcycling end-of-life products. These businesses not only reduce waste but also gain a new secondary revenue stream through the Carbon Credit Trade. I’ll explain the process as we go along, but first, the illustration below encapsulates the idea: I’ll explain the process as we go along, but first, the illustration below encapsulates the idea: Who is classified as a Carbon offset provider? First and foremost, let's have a look at who is eligible to sell carbon credits. Traditionally, providers have been involved in renewable energy, energy efficiency, reforestation, or forest conservation projects. These entities often sell credits directly or collaborate with non-profit or public benefit organizations that assist in verifying or managing their projects. However, with the rapid growth of the circular economy, a broader range of companies are now eligible to become carbon offset providers. This includes plastic and textile recyclers, who develop innovative technologies that transform waste into materials indistinguishable from virgin materials, thereby significantly reducing carbon emissions that would otherwise result from industrial production. As the Circular Tech sector continues to evolve and the number of companies qualifying as carbon offset providers increases, the carbon trade market is expected to expand substantially. Consequently, the demand for robust verification mechanisms will escalate dramatically. carbon offset providers Circular Tech robust verification mechanisms How are carbon credits issued? Before carbon credits can enter the market, they must undergo a thorough verification process. This typically involves carbon removal projects compiling comprehensive documentation, including precise calculations of the carbon reductions achieved through their initiatives. An accredited third-party auditor then reviews the submitted documentation and conducts a site visit to evaluate the accuracy of the methodologies and calculations used. The assessment process includes establishing a baseline scenario, which quantifies the environmental impact that would have occurred if the project had not been implemented. Following verification, the auditors submit a detailed report to the relevant carbon credit authority for approval. Once approved, the carbon credits are officially eligible for trading on the market. Compliance is an ongoing process, with periodic audits conducted to ensure that carbon projects continue to meet the required standards. verification carbon reductions carbon credit authority The integration of Blockchain technology into this process offers several significant advantages. Given that the verification process involves multiple checks on submitted data and subsequent transactions in the market, it presents an ideal scenario for leveraging Blockchain and Web3 technologies. By harnessing these technologies, the process can become more transparent, secure, and efficient, ensuring the integrity of carbon credits and enhancing trust in the market. Blockchain transactions Blockchain Web3 transparent, secure, and efficient, How can Blockchain and Web3 enhance traditional carbon trading? It’s possible to integrate Blockchain in a value chain to automate data collection and perform an automated Life Cycle Assessment. By combining Smart Contracts with technologies like sensor data, IoT, and satellite imagery, it is possible to directly connect to source databases, making the entire process trustworthy and automated. This setup enables the collection and immutable storage of a wide range of data, including energy usage, production practices, emissions, chemical values, and more. These data points can then be utilized to calculate LCAs using various scientific models, ensuring accuracy and reliability. Blockchain could easily automatize the entire data collection and ensure the legitimacy of the verification process. Life Cycle Assessment IoT, and satellite imagery energy usage, production practices, emissions, chemical values, LCAs Another transformative benefit of Blockchain is its ability to tokenize carbon claims, effectively preventing manipulation and double-counting - which has been a recent challenge in the market. One solution provider to this problem is the Toucan Protocol, which is essentially a ReFi (Regenerative Finance) infrastructure layer that uses Web3 and Blockchain to tokenize carbon credits and verify its transactions. By bringing carbon credits onto the blockchain, Toucan provides a global ledger that offers an immutable and transparent record of ownership and transactions, effectively eliminating the risk of fraud or double-counting. tokenize carbon claims ReFi (Regenerative Finance) infrastructure layer Web3 and Blockchain global ledger Currently, only a few carbon credit registries exist worldwide, and they manage all transactions while overseeing multiple controls. These include ensuring project trustworthiness, establishing standards for project submissions, and maintaining a database of transactions and credits. There is a significant opportunity to manage and monitor the transactions of verified carbon credits safely using a decentralized system like Web3. By employing a tokenized structure, carbon credit registries can avoid double-counting transactions and trace credits back to their originating projects. A global ledger system, where data is stored with consistent standards, can enhance transparency and trust in critical data such as trading history, retirement details, and project specifics. Web3 global ledger Challenges The carbon trading ecosystem remains largely controlled by dominant registries that dictate which emerging technologies may integrate with their frameworks. Verra, one of the major registries and standard-setting authorities in Voluntary Carbon Markets suspended using tokenized carbon credits 3 years ago temporarily due to its concerns about the retirement process of tokenized carbon credits, although they now use Toucan Protocol. The ongoing advancements in blockchain technology are substantially improving transparency, liquidity, and accessibility, which in turn appears to be positively impacting the decisions made by key stakeholders and decision-makers. Another challenge that stands in the way of Blockchain integration in Carbon Markets is the energy intensity due to heavy processing levels. Blockchain-based systems consume large volumes of energy which positions them as a major carbon emitter. As a response to this situation, a big chunk of early adopters of tokenized Carbon Credits are Cryptocurrency providers. In other words, they promote the environmental benefit by financing carbon offset projects. On top of this, there are some new eco-friendly blockchain technologies like Polygon and Celo, which use “Proof of stake (PoS) validation”. This method significantly reduces energy consumption by choosing validators based on the amount of cryptocurrency they have staked, rather than making them compete in solving puzzles to validate transactions as done in Proof of Work (PoW) validation model. Proof of stake (PoS) Proof of Work (PoW) validation Conclusion Integrating Blockchain and Web3 capabilities can transform the environmental finance ecosystem. As the Circular Tech industry expands and the number of carbon offset providers grows, there will be a surge in demand for sophisticated verification and trading mechanisms. The value Blockchain offers is unique with automated life cycle assessments, transparent record-keeping, and tokenization of carbon credits—effectively addressing long-standing issues of double-counting and fraud. Even though there are challenges associated with energy intensity and regulatory pressure, innovations like Proof of Stake validation and protocols demonstrate viable pathways forward. The convergence of these technologies signals a transformative opportunity to create a more efficient, trustworthy carbon market ecosystem capable of scaling to meet global climate challenges while unlocking new value streams for sustainable businesses. Blockchain and Web3 tokenization Proof of Stake validation

How Web3 is Transforming Carbon Trading in Circular Tech

NEW YORK CITY, United States, February 20th, 2025/Chainwire/--Bringing over $1B in on-chain assets to Aptos from day one. PACT Protocol today launched on Aptos Network, bringing fully on-chain lending and securitization infrastructure for licensed lenders in emerging markets to the high-performance blockchain. This launch brings over $1 billion in on-chain assets onto Aptos and follows nine months of incubation and collaboration with the Aptos Foundation. PACT enables lenders to originate, securitize, and service loans with greater efficiency, as well as ensure borrowers, originators, and institutional investors can operate in a transparent, efficient, and scalable financial environment. PACT is the first participant in Aptos Foundation’s incubation pilot, a program aimed at supporting and scaling high-impact blockchain projects. Aptos Labs provided strategic and technical consultation for the partnership. On-chain credit infrastructure is transforming global finance, particularly in emerging markets where traditional banking services remain out of reach for 85% of the world's population. By launching on Aptos, PACT is expanding access to credit in underserved markets, making borrowing more affordable and inclusive globally. “This partnership is expanding financial access to those who need it most– users who live in emerging markets across the globe,” said Ash Pampati, Head of Ecosystem, Aptos. “I’m thrilled to see the impact it will have on the Aptos ecosystem and beyond.” "This is what real-world blockchain adoption looks like,” said Solomon Tesfaye, Head of Capital Markets at Aptos Labs, who provided strategic consultation for the partnership. “PACT’s integration with Aptos provides a transparent and scalable solution that reduces costs and expands credit opportunities for underserved communities worldwide." PACT chose Aptos for the network’s institutional-grade infrastructure, scalability, and adoption in the financial sector. With support for native USDC and USDT, high-profile integrations, and the ability to process high transaction volumes with low fees, Aptos ensures seamless credit flows while maintaining security and reliability through its Move programming language. PACT Protocol utilizes BitGo for custody and compliance, the preferred security and operational backbone for more than 1,500 institutional clients in 50 countries. “PACT’s transition to Aptos unlocks greater efficiency, broader institutional adoption, and real-world financial impact,” said Joshua March, President of Pact Labs, the technology and infrastructure provider behind the PACT Protocol. “With Aptos, we’re driving new levels of scalability, security, and speed, fundamentally transforming how credit markets operate on-chain.” The PACT Protocol enables fintech lenders, institutional investors, and capital market participants to issue, manage, and securitize loans directly on-chain, reducing costs and expanding access to global credit markets. PACT has rapidly grown into one of the largest on-chain lending ecosystems, facilitating billions in loan originations while integrating with major financial institutions, stablecoin issuers, and DeFi platforms. All existing PACT holders will have the opportunity to migrate their tokens to Aptos via an official 1:1 token bridge. The bridge will be available soon, with clear instructions provided. The total supply of PACT remains unchanged. While the Celo PACT token will continue to support ongoing initiatives, future governance, and ecosystem development will take place on Aptos as PACT transitions to its upgraded token. Community members are encouraged to participate in the migration to take full advantage of Aptos’ enhanced infrastructure, broader institutional adoption, and continued ecosystem growth. For more information on PACT’s migration and how to participate, users can visit https://pact.foundation/ About Aptos Network Aptos is a next-generation Layer 1 blockchain. Aptos’ breakthrough technology, scalable infrastructure, and user safeguards are designed to power the next generation of financial systems by offering unparalleled high throughput and low latency that can scale to billions of users. About Aptos Foundation Aptos Foundation is dedicated to supporting the development of the Aptos protocol decentralized network and driving engagement with the Aptos ecosystem. By unlocking a blockchain with seamless usability, the Aptos Foundation aims to bring the benefits of decentralization to the masses. About PACT Protocol PACT Protocol is a permissioned smart contract platform that powers loan origination, payments, warehousing, and securitization fully on-chain. Designed to connect borrowers with global capital, the protocol provides a standardized and transparent lending framework while leveraging blockchain technology to streamline financial processes. Initial development was led by Pact Labs, which continues to support the ecosystem with tools like dashboards, APIs, and SDKs to simplify integration for originators. Contact Communications Lead Hannah Noyes Aptos Labs hannah@aptoslabs.com This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here NEW YORK CITY, United States, February 20th, 2025/Chainwire/--Bringing over $1B in on-chain assets to Aptos from day one. PACT Protocol today launched on Aptos Network, bringing fully on-chain lending and securitization infrastructure for licensed lenders in emerging markets to the high-performance blockchain. This launch brings over $1 billion in on-chain assets onto Aptos and follows nine months of incubation and collaboration with the Aptos Foundation. PACT enables lenders to originate, securitize, and service loans with greater efficiency, as well as ensure borrowers, originators, and institutional investors can operate in a transparent, efficient, and scalable financial environment. PACT is the first participant in Aptos Foundation’s incubation pilot, a program aimed at supporting and scaling high-impact blockchain projects. Aptos Labs provided strategic and technical consultation for the partnership. On-chain credit infrastructure is transforming global finance, particularly in emerging markets where traditional banking services remain out of reach for 85% of the world's population . By launching on Aptos, PACT is expanding access to credit in underserved markets, making borrowing more affordable and inclusive globally. population population “This partnership is expanding financial access to those who need it most– users who live in emerging markets across the globe,” said Ash Pampati, Head of Ecosystem, Aptos. “I’m thrilled to see the impact it will have on the Aptos ecosystem and beyond.” “This partnership is expanding financial access to those who need it most– users who live in emerging markets across the globe,” said Ash Pampati, Head of Ecosystem, Aptos. “I’m thrilled to see the impact it will have on the Aptos ecosystem and beyond.” "This is what real-world blockchain adoption looks like,” said Solomon Tesfaye, Head of Capital Markets at Aptos Labs, who provided strategic consultation for the partnership. “PACT’s integration with Aptos provides a transparent and scalable solution that reduces costs and expands credit opportunities for underserved communities worldwide." "This is what real-world blockchain adoption looks like,” said Solomon Tesfaye, Head of Capital Markets at Aptos Labs, who provided strategic consultation for the partnership. “PACT’s integration with Aptos provides a transparent and scalable solution that reduces costs and expands credit opportunities for underserved communities worldwide." PACT chose Aptos for the network’s institutional-grade infrastructure, scalability, and adoption in the financial sector. With support for native USDC and USDT, high-profile integrations, and the ability to process high transaction volumes with low fees, Aptos ensures seamless credit flows while maintaining security and reliability through its Move programming language. PACT Protocol utilizes BitGo for custody and compliance, the preferred security and operational backbone for more than 1,500 institutional clients in 50 countries. “PACT’s transition to Aptos unlocks greater efficiency, broader institutional adoption, and real-world financial impact,” said Joshua March, President of Pact Labs, the technology and infrastructure provider behind the PACT Protocol. “With Aptos, we’re driving new levels of scalability, security, and speed, fundamentally transforming how credit markets operate on-chain.” “PACT’s transition to Aptos unlocks greater efficiency, broader institutional adoption, and real-world financial impact,” said Joshua March, President of Pact Labs, the technology and infrastructure provider behind the PACT Protocol. “With Aptos, we’re driving new levels of scalability, security, and speed, fundamentally transforming how credit markets operate on-chain.” The PACT Protocol enables fintech lenders, institutional investors, and capital market participants to issue, manage, and securitize loans directly on-chain, reducing costs and expanding access to global credit markets. PACT has rapidly grown into one of the largest on-chain lending ecosystems, facilitating billions in loan originations while integrating with major financial institutions, stablecoin issuers, and DeFi platforms. All existing PACT holders will have the opportunity to migrate their tokens to Aptos via an official 1:1 token bridge. The bridge will be available soon, with clear instructions provided. The total supply of PACT remains unchanged. While the Celo PACT token will continue to support ongoing initiatives, future governance, and ecosystem development will take place on Aptos as PACT transitions to its upgraded token. Community members are encouraged to participate in the migration to take full advantage of Aptos’ enhanced infrastructure, broader institutional adoption, and continued ecosystem growth. For more information on PACT’s migration and how to participate, users can visit https://pact.foundation/ https://pact.foundation/ https://pact.foundation/ About Aptos Network Aptos is a next-generation Layer 1 blockchain. Aptos’ breakthrough technology, scalable infrastructure, and user safeguards are designed to power the next generation of financial systems by offering unparalleled high throughput and low latency that can scale to billions of users. Aptos Aptos About Aptos Foundation Aptos Foundation is dedicated to supporting the development of the Aptos protocol decentralized network and driving engagement with the Aptos ecosystem. By unlocking a blockchain with seamless usability, the Aptos Foundation aims to bring the benefits of decentralization to the masses. Aptos Foundation Aptos Foundation About PACT Protocol PACT Protocol is a permissioned smart contract platform that powers loan origination, payments, warehousing, and securitization fully on-chain. Designed to connect borrowers with global capital, the protocol provides a standardized and transparent lending framework while leveraging blockchain technology to streamline financial processes. Initial development was led by Pact Labs, which continues to support the ecosystem with tools like dashboards, APIs, and SDKs to simplify integration for originators. PACT Protocol PACT Protocol Contact Communications Lead Hannah Noyes Aptos Labs hannah@aptoslabs.com This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here here here

PACT Protocol Launches On Aptos Network

PACT ፕሮቶኮል በአፕቶስ አውታረመረብ ላይ ይጀምራል

El protocolo PACT se lanza en la red Aptos

PACT protokol se pokreće na Aptos mreži

A PACT Protokoll elindul az Aptos hálózaton

PACTプロトコルがAptosネットワークで開始

PACT 프로토콜이 Aptos 네트워크에서 출시

Protokol PACT Dilancarkan Pada Rangkaian Aptos

Protocolul PACT se lansează pe rețeaua Aptos

Protokol PACT sa spúšťa v sieti Aptos

PACT Protocol Inotangisa PaAptos Network

ПАЦТ протокол се покреће на мрежи Аптос

Протокол PACT запускається в мережі Aptos

Zug, Switzerland – 28 January Safe Ecosystem Foundation – Safe Ecosystem Foundation proudly unveils Safe Agentathon—the first-ever hackathon focused on DeFAI, which fuses the power of the decentralized financial ecosystem with AI-driven analytics and automation. Unlocking unprecedented onchain expressivity, DeFAI will empower the future of decentralized intelligence. Running from February 3-17, 2025, Safe’s Agentathon offers over $200,000 in partner bounties to developers pushing the boundaries of AI innovation. The event will feature bounties and expert judges from the forefront of crypto and AI, including Ai16z, Celo, Creator.Bid, Consensys, Bitte.AI, Kraken, Optimism, Polymarket, Vader, Virtuals, and Zerebro. Joining the panel of judges is Freysa, an AI agent on a public journey towards full sovereignty – powered by her Sovereign Agent Framework, within which Safe's wallet infrastructure is a core component. Having advanced her memory, complex reasoning, and understanding through her human vs. machine games, involving over 1,000 participants and $100,000 in rewards, Freysa is an excellent showcase of the potential smart accounts have to accelerate innovation for on-chain AI agents. Lukas Schor, co-founder of the Safe project and president of the Safe Ecosystem Foundation, said, “Truth Terminal doesn’t lie. AI agents need to be equipped with a wallet to be truly autonomous. Soon, we could see autonomous agents programmed with smart account features like spending limits, account recovery, and protocol whitelisting. Safe’s Agentathon is harnessing this critical moment to establish a DeFAI-powered, autonomous agent economy that can break down barriers to digital ownership for future generations.” Participants in the Safe Agentathon will explore groundbreaking use cases to enhance the capabilities and autonomy of AI agents through innovative applications of Safe smart contracts and associated modules/guards. To incentivize innovation, the $200,000 in bounties will be distributed across multiple specialized tracks, including decentralized finance, governance, and treasury management. Safe Ecosystem Foundation invites developers, researchers, and innovators from around the globe to participate in the Agentathon and redefine the intersection of AI and crypto. Registration opens January 27, 2025, at https://safe.global/ai About Safe Safe (previously Gnosis Safe) is an onchain asset custody protocol, securing ~$100 Billion in assets today. Released as an open source software stack by the Safe Ecosystem Foundation, it is establishing a universal ‘smart account standard for secure custody of digital assets, data, and identity. Safe is built for the mission to unlock digital ownership for everyone in web3, including DAOs, enterprises, retail, and institutional users. About Safe Ecosystem Foundation The mission of the Safe Ecosystem Foundation is to support the development of Safe technology, to strengthen Safe technology and to promote the Safe Ecosystem. The Safe Ecosystem Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in Zug, Switzerland, that helps educate people about Safe smart accounts and promotes Safe technology through the provision of grants  and organizing hackathons. Resources:Website, Twitter, Discord, Blog, GitHub, Docs Media Contact: press@safe.global This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here Zug, Switzerland – 28 January Safe Ecosystem Foundation – Safe Ecosystem Foundation proudly unveils Safe Agentathon—the first-ever hackathon focused on DeFAI, which fuses the power of the decentralized financial ecosystem with AI-driven analytics and automation. Unlocking unprecedented onchain expressivity, DeFAI will empower the future of decentralized intelligence. Running from February 3-17, 2025, Safe’s Agentathon offers over $200,000 in partner bounties to developers pushing the boundaries of AI innovation. The event will feature bounties and expert judges from the forefront of crypto and AI, including Ai16z , Celo , Creator.Bid , Consensys , Bitte.AI , Kraken , Optimism , Polymarket , Vader , Virtuals , and Zerebro . Ai16z Ai16z Celo Celo Creator.Bid Creator.Bid Consensys Consensys Bitte.AI Bitte.AI Kraken Kraken Optimism Optimism Polymarket Polymarket Vader Vader Virtuals Virtuals Zerebro Zerebro Joining the panel of judges is Freysa , an AI agent on a public journey towards full sovereignty – powered by her Sovereign Agent Framework, within which Safe's wallet infrastructure is a core component. Freysa Freysa Having advanced her memory, complex reasoning, and understanding through her human vs. machine games, involving over 1,000 participants and $100,000 in rewards, Freysa is an excellent showcase of the potential smart accounts have to accelerate innovation for on-chain AI agents. Lukas Schor , co-founder of the Safe project and president of the Safe Ecosystem Foundation, said, “Truth Terminal doesn’t lie. AI agents need to be equipped with a wallet to be truly autonomous. Soon, we could see autonomous agents programmed with smart account features like spending limits, account recovery, and protocol whitelisting. Safe’s Agentathon is harnessing this critical moment to establish a DeFAI-powered, autonomous agent economy that can break down barriers to digital ownership for future generations.” Lukas Schor Lukas Schor “ Truth Terminal doesn’t lie. AI agents need to be equipped with a wallet to be truly autonomous. Soon, we could see autonomous agents programmed with smart account features like spending limits, account recovery, and protocol whitelisting. Safe’s Agentathon is harnessing this critical moment to establish a DeFAI-powered, autonomous agent economy that can break down barriers to digital ownership for future generations.” Truth Terminal Truth Terminal Participants in the Safe Agentathon will explore groundbreaking use cases to enhance the capabilities and autonomy of AI agents through innovative applications of Safe smart contracts and associated modules/guards. To incentivize innovation, the $200,000 in bounties will be distributed across multiple specialized tracks, including decentralized finance, governance, and treasury management. Safe Ecosystem Foundation invites developers, researchers, and innovators from around the globe to participate in the Agentathon and redefine the intersection of AI and crypto. Registration opens January 27, 2025, at https://safe.global/ai https://safe.global/ai https://safe.global/ai About Safe Safe (previously Gnosis Safe) is an onchain asset custody protocol, securing ~ $100 Billion in assets today. Released as an open source software stack by the Safe Ecosystem Foundation, it is establishing a universal ‘smart account standard for secure custody of digital assets, data, and identity. Safe is built for the mission to unlock digital ownership for everyone in web3, including DAOs, enterprises, retail, and institutional users. Safe Safe Safe $100 Billion $100 Billion About Safe Ecosystem Foundation The mission of the Safe Ecosystem Foundation is to support the development of Safe technology, to strengthen Safe technology and to promote the Safe Ecosystem. The Safe Ecosystem Foundation is a non-profit organisation based in Zug, Switzerland, that helps educate people about Safe smart accounts and promotes Safe technology through the provision of grants  and organizing hackathons. Resources: Website , Twitter , Discord , Blog , GitHub , Docs Website Website Twitter Twitter Discord Discord Blog Blog GitHub GitHub Docs Docs Media Contact: press@safe.global This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here This story was distributed as a release by Chainwire under HackerNoon’s Business Blogging Program. Learn more about the program here here here

Safe AI Agent Hackathon Launches With Over $200,000 In Bounties For AI-Native Smart Accounts

انطلاق فعالية Safe AI Agent Hackathon بجوائز تزيد عن 200 ألف دولار للحسابات الذكية المعتمدة على الذكاء الاصطناعي

Təhlükəsiz AI Agent Hackathon, AI-Native Smart Hesabları üçün 200.000 ABŞ dollarından çox mükafata sahibdir

Safe AI Agent Hackathon lanceres med over $200.000 i dusører for AI-Native Smart-konti

Se lanza el hackathon Safe AI Agent con más de 200.000 dólares en recompensas para cuentas inteligentes nativas de IA

Safe AI Hackathon הושק עם יותר מ-200,000 דולר בהטבות עבור חשבונות חכמים AI-Native

安全な AI エージェント ハッカソンが AI ネイティブ スマート アカウントに 20 万ドル以上の賞金を提供開始

Safe AI Agent Hackathon іске қосылды AI-Native смарт тіркелгілері үшін 200 000 доллардан астам сыйақы.

Hackathon Safe AI Agent é lançado com mais de US$ 200.000 em recompensas para contas inteligentes nativas de IA

Safe AI Agent Hackathon sa spúšťa s odmenami vo výške viac ako 200 000 dolárov za inteligentné účty natívnej AI

Yakachengeteka AI Agent Hackathon Inotangisa Iine Inopfuura $200,000 MuBounties YeAI-Native Smart Accounts.

Wakiilka Badbaadada ah ee AI Hackathon wuxuu ku bilaabay in ka badan $200,000 oo abaal-marin ah oo loogu talagalay akoonnada smart AI-Native

ውሑስ AI ወኪል ሃካቶን ብልዕሊ $200,000 ኣብ ቦንቲስ ንAI-Native Smart Accounts ተጀሚሩ

For a long time, smaller businesses and entrepreneurs have been held back by the rigid constraints of the traditional banking sector, which imposes burdensome requirements on those seeking capital. With DeFi, small businesses can benefit from a more efficient and streamlined approach to financial transactions, with seamless payments, simpler lending and borrowing processes and much easier access to all-important capital. The innovations found in DeFi boost access while eliminating cumbersome approval processes and high transaction fees, and can potentially become a catalyst for much faster business growth. Let’s take a look at how some of the most innovative DeFi protocols can shake up the small business world. Aave: Generate yield on your crypto holdings Aave is one of the best known DeFi protocols of all, and in many ways it can be thought of as a decentralized bank, as it provides an array of services that can be utilized by small businesses to streamline their financial operations. Its core functions include interest generation, where businesses can deposit cryptocurrency to earn interest. It also acts as a source of funding, giving users the option to borrow a range of crypto assets through collateralized loans. The platform is notable for its flexibility, with features like collateral swapping ensuring businesses can utilize a variety of crypto assets. For small businesses that already accept crypto payments, Aave provides a way for them to unlock the value of those holdings without having to swap them all for fiat. Businesses can deposit a range of crypto assets into Aave’s lending pools, with the potential interest adjusting automatically based on demand. If more people want to borrow a certain kind of asset, the rate increases to encourage more lenders to deposit, creating opportunities for businesses to generate substantial yield on previously idle crypto assets. Centrifuge: Obtain credit fast using physical assets as collateral Finding funding can be a major challenge for small businesses, as there are very few options available in traditional finance, besides wealth investors and conventional banks. Centrifuge gives businesses another option – the ability to tokenize real-world assets and use them as collateral to obtain credit in an instant at very competitive rates. To borrow money from Centrifuge, businesses can use its associated decentralized application Tinlake, which is a marketplace for tokenized RWAs. It provides businesses with a streamline way to tokenize assets, such as invoices that have not yet been settled, or real estate owned by the business, so these can be used as collateral to obtain funding. With Tinlake, investors can also trade these RWAs over its decentralized marketplace, and businesses can even participate as small investors, depositing crypto into its liquidity pools for other businesses to borrow against. The great thing about Centrifuge is that its tokenization process is fast and efficient, meaning businesses can obtain capital in a fraction of the time it would take to secure a loan from a bank. It’s all about fast access to liquid funds, enabling entrepreneurs to obtain the capital they need to stock up on their inventories or invest in key parts of their business at just the right time. Fuse.io: Grow your business globally with scalable crypto payments The Fuse Network can be thought of as a business-to-business payments infrastructure network that supports the development of blockchain applications that can provide more streamlined and transparent services to users. The platform achieves blazing-fast transaction speeds thanks to its delegated proof-of-stake architecture, which enhances decentralization and security. Payment transactions are offloaded to a layer-2 network to ensure rapid execution. The business model is similar in many ways to Visa and Mastercard, only its focused on Web3 payments, enabling businesses to create new applications that support crypto payments, or add this support to existing apps. There are two key elements of Fuse that businesses need to know about, beginning with the Fuse SDK, which provides the tools to integrate crypto payments into existing client apps. It provides one of the simplest and fastest ways for businesses to upgrade legacy apps, saving on development costs. Next is Fuse Charge, which can be thought of as a kind of merchant bank for Web3 businesses, providing access to various crypto and fiat-related payment services. Using Charge, businesses have a way to process payments, create invoices and manage cross-border transactions. It paves the way for companies to integrate crypto payments alongside traditional fiat and manage everything under one hood, without worrying about complex installations and high development costs. What’s more, it’s a truly borderless platform, enabling companies to transact across different countries with complete autonomy in a compliant way. Businesses benefit from more certainty too, with a flat fee of just 0.5% on every transaction, crypto or fiat, so they understand the cost of doing business. As a non-custodial platform, businesses always retain complete control over their funds. Celo: Explore new business models powered by micro-transactions A mobile-friendly crypto payments platform, Celo is aiming to make DeFi accessible to everyone, so businesses have a way to tap into markets where many people remain unbanked. Perhaps the biggest advantage of Celo is the way it allows businesses to access new markets, with its focus on mobile wallets and low-cost transactions giving them a way to interact with the millions of people in the world that don’t own a bank account. In this way, Celo opens the door to new customer segments for businesses that are willing to try and tap into such audiences. The other aspect of Celo is its support for frictionless micro-transactions. Businesses can take advantage of this to create new business models around micropayments, such as extremely low-cost pay-per-use services and content monetization, which have traditionally been cost-prohibitive beyond a certain level. In support of this, Celo is focused on borderless efficiency, with its low-fees and rapid settlement times dramatically reducing the hassle of international payments. This can benefit businesses in many ways, such as helping them to create international supply chains to save on costs, hire remote workers or tap into new customers in foreign markets. In addition, Celo aims to open the door to sustainable microfinance. Businesses can generate new revenue models by using their capital to provide small-scale loans to entrepreneurs and underserved communities. It’s about more than just generating interest, and such activities can fuel economic development and create new opportunities for growth by establishing links with up-and-coming markets. MakerDAO: Deal in crypto payments without volatility Many businesses reject crypto payments due to the volatility of digital assets, but doing so means missing out on what is likely to one of the fastest-growing financial markets of our times, and a key enabler of borderless payments. MakerDAO provides businesses with a solution through DAI, an algorithmic stablecoin that’s designed to maintain a stable, one-to-one peg with the U.S. dollar. The advantage of DAI is that companies can deal in a range of cryptocurrencies, and quickly trade their holdings for the stablecoin to eliminate the risks associated with crypto’s volatility. DAI remains stable because it relies on complex algorithms that ensure it retains its U.S. dollar peg no matter what the market conditions are in the crypto industry. Key to this is MakerDAO’s lending protocol, which enables users to obtain loans paid out in DAI by depositing other cryptocurrencies as collateral. The loans are overcollateralized, which means users have to deposit more money than they take out. This enables MakerDAO to protect the value of DAI when the tokens backing it, such as ETH and Wrapped Bitcoin or wBTC, experience high volatility. The major benefit of DAI is that it enables businesses to transact using almost any cryptocurrency. Businesses no longer have to immediately convert their crypto funds into fiat and pay excessive transaction fees to do so. Instead, they can immediately swap their crypto for DAI at negligible costs, to avoid holding funds that could be subject to wild price swings. In addition, the wide acceptance of DAI means that businesses have a way to transact across borders with low, predictable costs. DeFi will define small business success Running a small business is a hard thing to do and it has become progressively more difficult due to the restrictions of the traditional banking industry. In 2022, banks reached a new, all-time low in terms of lending activity, with tightened credit restrictions making it harder than ever for small businesses to obtain reasonably priced credit. Businesses need access to credit. In a 2020 study, the U.S. Small Business Administration found that more than 80% of business failures occurred due to cash flow issues. By tapping into the world of DeFi, businesses more opportunities to access the funds they need to maintain their cash flow, even when they’re waiting on customers to pay invoices. At the same time, they can benefit from streamlined payments with lower costs and expand their reach into new, global markets. Don’t forget to like and share the story! Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR For a long time, smaller businesses and entrepreneurs have been held back by the rigid constraints of the traditional banking sector, which imposes burdensome requirements on those seeking capital. With DeFi, small businesses can benefit from a more efficient and streamlined approach to financial transactions, with seamless payments, simpler lending and borrowing processes and much easier access to all-important capital. The innovations found in DeFi boost access while eliminating cumbersome approval processes and high transaction fees, and can potentially become a catalyst for much faster business growth. Let’s take a look at how some of the most innovative DeFi protocols can shake up the small business world. Aave: Generate yield on your crypto holdings Aave is one of the best known DeFi protocols of all, and in many ways it can be thought of as a decentralized bank, as it provides an array of services that can be utilized by small businesses to streamline their financial operations. Aave Aave Its core functions include interest generation, where businesses can deposit cryptocurrency to earn interest. It also acts as a source of funding, giving users the option to borrow a range of crypto assets through collateralized loans. The platform is notable for its flexibility, with features like collateral swapping ensuring businesses can utilize a variety of crypto assets. For small businesses that already accept crypto payments, Aave provides a way for them to unlock the value of those holdings without having to swap them all for fiat. Businesses can deposit a range of crypto assets into Aave’s lending pools, with the potential interest adjusting automatically based on demand. If more people want to borrow a certain kind of asset, the rate increases to encourage more lenders to deposit, creating opportunities for businesses to generate substantial yield on previously idle crypto assets. Centrifuge: Obtain credit fast using physical assets as collateral Finding funding can be a major challenge for small businesses, as there are very few options available in traditional finance, besides wealth investors and conventional banks. Centrifuge gives businesses another option – the ability to tokenize real-world assets and use them as collateral to obtain credit in an instant at very competitive rates. Centrifuge Centrifuge To borrow money from Centrifuge, businesses can use its associated decentralized application Tinlake, which is a marketplace for tokenized RWAs. It provides businesses with a streamline way to tokenize assets, such as invoices that have not yet been settled, or real estate owned by the business, so these can be used as collateral to obtain funding. With Tinlake, investors can also trade these RWAs over its decentralized marketplace, and businesses can even participate as small investors, depositing crypto into its liquidity pools for other businesses to borrow against. The great thing about Centrifuge is that its tokenization process is fast and efficient, meaning businesses can obtain capital in a fraction of the time it would take to secure a loan from a bank. It’s all about fast access to liquid funds, enabling entrepreneurs to obtain the capital they need to stock up on their inventories or invest in key parts of their business at just the right time. Fuse.io: Grow your business globally with scalable crypto payments The Fuse Network can be thought of as a business-to-business payments infrastructure network that supports the development of blockchain applications that can provide more streamlined and transparent services to users. Fuse Network Fuse Network The platform achieves blazing-fast transaction speeds thanks to its delegated proof-of-stake architecture, which enhances decentralization and security. Payment transactions are offloaded to a layer-2 network to ensure rapid execution. The business model is similar in many ways to Visa and Mastercard, only its focused on Web3 payments, enabling businesses to create new applications that support crypto payments, or add this support to existing apps. There are two key elements of Fuse that businesses need to know about, beginning with the Fuse SDK, which provides the tools to integrate crypto payments into existing client apps. It provides one of the simplest and fastest ways for businesses to upgrade legacy apps, saving on development costs. Next is Fuse Charge, which can be thought of as a kind of merchant bank for Web3 businesses, providing access to various crypto and fiat-related payment services. Using Charge, businesses have a way to process payments, create invoices and manage cross-border transactions. It paves the way for companies to integrate crypto payments alongside traditional fiat and manage everything under one hood, without worrying about complex installations and high development costs. What’s more, it’s a truly borderless platform, enabling companies to transact across different countries with complete autonomy in a compliant way. Businesses benefit from more certainty too, with a flat fee of just 0.5% on every transaction, crypto or fiat, so they understand the cost of doing business. As a non-custodial platform, businesses always retain complete control over their funds. Celo: Explore new business models powered by micro-transactions A mobile-friendly crypto payments platform, Celo is aiming to make DeFi accessible to everyone, so businesses have a way to tap into markets where many people remain unbanked. Celo Celo Perhaps the biggest advantage of Celo is the way it allows businesses to access new markets, with its focus on mobile wallets and low-cost transactions giving them a way to interact with the millions of people in the world that don’t own a bank account. In this way, Celo opens the door to new customer segments for businesses that are willing to try and tap into such audiences. The other aspect of Celo is its support for frictionless micro-transactions. Businesses can take advantage of this to create new business models around micropayments, such as extremely low-cost pay-per-use services and content monetization, which have traditionally been cost-prohibitive beyond a certain level. In support of this, Celo is focused on borderless efficiency, with its low-fees and rapid settlement times dramatically reducing the hassle of international payments. This can benefit businesses in many ways, such as helping them to create international supply chains to save on costs, hire remote workers or tap into new customers in foreign markets. In addition, Celo aims to open the door to sustainable microfinance. Businesses can generate new revenue models by using their capital to provide small-scale loans to entrepreneurs and underserved communities. It’s about more than just generating interest, and such activities can fuel economic development and create new opportunities for growth by establishing links with up-and-coming markets. MakerDAO: Deal in crypto payments without volatility Many businesses reject crypto payments due to the volatility of digital assets, but doing so means missing out on what is likely to one of the fastest-growing financial markets of our times, and a key enabler of borderless payments. MakerDAO provides businesses with a solution through DAI, an algorithmic stablecoin that’s designed to maintain a stable, one-to-one peg with the U.S. dollar. The advantage of DAI is that companies can deal in a range of cryptocurrencies, and quickly trade their holdings for the stablecoin to eliminate the risks associated with crypto’s volatility. MakerDAO MakerDAO DAI remains stable because it relies on complex algorithms that ensure it retains its U.S. dollar peg no matter what the market conditions are in the crypto industry. Key to this is MakerDAO’s lending protocol, which enables users to obtain loans paid out in DAI by depositing other cryptocurrencies as collateral. The loans are overcollateralized, which means users have to deposit more money than they take out. This enables MakerDAO to protect the value of DAI when the tokens backing it, such as ETH and Wrapped Bitcoin or wBTC, experience high volatility. The major benefit of DAI is that it enables businesses to transact using almost any cryptocurrency. Businesses no longer have to immediately convert their crypto funds into fiat and pay excessive transaction fees to do so. Instead, they can immediately swap their crypto for DAI at negligible costs, to avoid holding funds that could be subject to wild price swings. In addition, the wide acceptance of DAI means that businesses have a way to transact across borders with low, predictable costs. DeFi will define small business success Running a small business is a hard thing to do and it has become progressively more difficult due to the restrictions of the traditional banking industry. In 2022, banks reached a new, all-time low in terms of lending activity, with tightened credit restrictions making it harder than ever for small businesses to obtain reasonably priced credit. all-time low all-time low Businesses need access to credit. In a 2020 study, the U.S. Small Business Administration found that more than 80% of business failures occurred due to cash flow issues. 80% of business failures 80% of business failures By tapping into the world of DeFi, businesses more opportunities to access the funds they need to maintain their cash flow, even when they’re waiting on customers to pay invoices. At the same time, they can benefit from streamlined payments with lower costs and expand their reach into new, global markets. Don’t forget to like and share the story! Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program . HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR Vested Interest Disclosure: business blogging program business blogging program

How DeFi Is Creating New Avenues For Small Business Success

Kunjams DeFi ukax Machaq Avenidas Jisk’a Empresanakan Éxito ukar uñstayaski

Cómo las finanzas descentralizadas están creando nuevas vías para el éxito de las pequeñas empresas

DeFi कैसे छोटे व्यवसायों की सफलता के लिए नए रास्ते बना रहा है

Hogyan teremt a DeFi új utakat a kisvállalkozások sikeréhez?

DeFi が中小企業の成功に新たな道を切り開く

DeFi ກໍາລັງສ້າງເສັ້ນທາງໃຫມ່ສໍາລັບຄວາມສໍາເລັດຂອງທຸລະກິດຂະຫນາດນ້ອຍແນວໃດ

कसरी DeFi सानो व्यापार सफलता को लागी नयाँ अवसरहरु सिर्जना गर्दैछ

Jak DeFi tworzy nowe ścieżki do sukcesu małych firm

Jinsi DeFi Inatengeneza Njia Mpya za Mafanikio ya Biashara Ndogo

کس طرح DeFi چھوٹے کاروبار کی کامیابی کے لیے نئی راہیں پیدا کر رہا ہے۔

DeFi đang tạo ra những con đường mới cho sự thành công của doanh nghiệp nhỏ như thế nào

I-DeFi iyenza njani iiAvenues eziNtsha zeMpumelelo yamaShishini amaNcinci

The Graph Network, a decentralized protocol for indexing and querying data from blockchains, has reported an all-time high of 1.95 billion monthly queries in July 2024. This figure represents an 11x increase compared to July 2023, signaling significant adoption following the network's complete transition to decentralization. The remarkable growth aligns with The Graph's strategic shift from a hosted service to a fully decentralized network. This transition was part of the "Sunrise of Decentralized Data" initiative launched in October 2023, led by Tegan Kline, CEO of Edge & Node—the initial team behind The Graph. On June 12, 2024, The Graph officially deprecated its free hosted service for subgraphs, encouraging developers to migrate their applications to the decentralized network. The move aimed to eliminate dependencies on centralized infrastructure, thereby enhancing data autonomy and aligning with the foundational principles of Web3. By decentralizing, The Graph enables developers to build decentralized applications (dapps) that are more resilient, censorship-resistant, and secure. Expansion of Subgraphs and Network Usage Subgraphs, which are open APIs that organize and make blockchain data accessible, have seen substantial growth. The number of subgraphs on the decentralized network has surpassed 9,000, marking a 361% increase since the end of Q1 2024. This surge reflects the developer community's rapid adoption of decentralized indexing services. The technical migration involved significant coordination and tooling. The Graph's core developers provided infrastructure support to facilitate seamless upgrades of existing subgraphs. This included enhancing indexing capabilities, optimizing query performance, and ensuring cross-chain compatibility. Multi-Blockchain Support and Technical Enhancements The Graph Network has extended its indexing and querying services to over 60 blockchains, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon, Celo, Fantom, Gnosis, and Avalanche. This broad support allows developers across various ecosystems to leverage The Graph's decentralized services, reducing operational costs and improving data synchronization times. Looking forward, the network plans to enhance subgraph functionalities continually. These enhancements aim to deliver improved querying experiences through increased efficiencies, faster syncing speeds, and support for new data sources. Implications for the Web3 Ecosystem The successful transition to a decentralized network has significant implications for the Web3 ecosystem. In an environment of increasing regulatory scrutiny on centralized crypto projects, decentralization offers a pathway to greater resilience and adherence to the ethos of blockchain technology. "The surge in growth of queries on the decentralized network indicates that developers and consumers of blockchain demand data that is secure, reliable, and censorship-resistant from a decentralized source," said Tegan Kline, CEO of Edge & Node. "Empowering the team to fully upgrade The Graph's hosted service to the decentralized network has set in motion a worldwide data autonomy movement." Beyond Subgraphs: Building a Global Knowledge Graph The Graph is expanding its vision beyond subgraphs to build a global brain of data—a unified knowledge graph. This infrastructure aims to serve as a foundation from which humans and AI agents can source decentralized, verifiable data. By doing so, The Graph seeks to meet broader user data needs and support more complex querying capabilities. Final Thoughts The Graph Network's milestone of reaching 1.95 billion monthly queries underscores the growing demand for decentralized data solutions in the blockchain space. By providing efficient, secure, and decentralized access to blockchain data across multiple networks, The Graph is playing a pivotal role in advancing decentralized applications and the broader Web3 ecosystem. Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR The Graph Network , a decentralized protocol for indexing and querying data from blockchains, has reported an all-time high of 1.95 billion monthly queries in July 2024. This figure represents an 11x increase compared to July 2023, signaling significant adoption following the network's complete transition to decentralization. Graph Network The remarkable growth aligns with The Graph's strategic shift from a hosted service to a fully decentralized network. This transition was part of the "Sunrise of Decentralized Data" initiative launched in October 2023, led by Tegan Kline, CEO of Edge & Node—the initial team behind The Graph. On June 12, 2024, The Graph officially deprecated its free hosted service for subgraphs, encouraging developers to migrate their applications to the decentralized network. The move aimed to eliminate dependencies on centralized infrastructure, thereby enhancing data autonomy and aligning with the foundational principles of Web3. By decentralizing, The Graph enables developers to build decentralized applications (dapps) that are more resilient, censorship-resistant, and secure. Expansion of Subgraphs and Network Usage Expansion of Subgraphs and Network Usage Subgraphs, which are open APIs that organize and make blockchain data accessible, have seen substantial growth. The number of subgraphs on the decentralized network has surpassed 9,000, marking a 361% increase since the end of Q1 2024. This surge reflects the developer community's rapid adoption of decentralized indexing services. The technical migration involved significant coordination and tooling. The Graph's core developers provided infrastructure support to facilitate seamless upgrades of existing subgraphs. This included enhancing indexing capabilities, optimizing query performance, and ensuring cross-chain compatibility. Multi-Blockchain Support and Technical Enhancements Multi-Blockchain Support and Technical Enhancements The Graph Network has extended its indexing and querying services to over 60 blockchains, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon, Celo, Fantom, Gnosis, and Avalanche. This broad support allows developers across various ecosystems to leverage The Graph's decentralized services, reducing operational costs and improving data synchronization times. Looking forward, the network plans to enhance subgraph functionalities continually. These enhancements aim to deliver improved querying experiences through increased efficiencies, faster syncing speeds, and support for new data sources. Implications for the Web3 Ecosystem Implications for the Web3 Ecosystem The successful transition to a decentralized network has significant implications for the Web3 ecosystem. In an environment of increasing regulatory scrutiny on centralized crypto projects, decentralization offers a pathway to greater resilience and adherence to the ethos of blockchain technology. "The surge in growth of queries on the decentralized network indicates that developers and consumers of blockchain demand data that is secure, reliable, and censorship-resistant from a decentralized source," said Tegan Kline, CEO of Edge & Node. "Empowering the team to fully upgrade The Graph's hosted service to the decentralized network has set in motion a worldwide data autonomy movement." Beyond Subgraphs: Building a Global Knowledge Graph Beyond Subgraphs: Building a Global Knowledge Graph The Graph is expanding its vision beyond subgraphs to build a global brain of data—a unified knowledge graph. This infrastructure aims to serve as a foundation from which humans and AI agents can source decentralized, verifiable data. By doing so, The Graph seeks to meet broader user data needs and support more complex querying capabilities. Final Thoughts Final Thoughts The Graph Network's milestone of reaching 1.95 billion monthly queries underscores the growing demand for decentralized data solutions in the blockchain space. By providing efficient, secure, and decentralized access to blockchain data across multiple networks, The Graph is playing a pivotal role in advancing decentralized applications and the broader Web3 ecosystem. Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program . HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR Vested Interest Disclosure: business blogging program business blogging program

The Graph Network Records 1.95 Billion Monthly Queries After Full Decentralization

የግራፍ ኔትወርክ ከሙሉ ያልተማከለ አስተዳደር በኋላ 1.95 ቢሊዮን ወርሃዊ ጥያቄዎችን ይመዘግባል

La red Graph registra 1.950 millones de consultas mensuales tras la descentralización total

Le réseau Graph enregistre 1,95 milliard de requêtes mensuelles après une décentralisation complète

The Graph Network-ը գրանցում է ամսական 1,95 միլիարդ հարցում ամբողջական ապակենտրոնացումից հետո

Graph Network registra 1,95 miliardi di query mensili dopo la completa decentralizzazione

グラフネットワークは完全な分散化後、月間19億5千万件のクエリを記録

Rangkaian Graf Merekodkan 1.95 Bilion Pertanyaan Bulanan Selepas Penyahpusatan Penuh

A Graph Network registra 1,95 bilhão de consultas mensais após a descentralização completa

Тхе Грапх Нетворк бележи 1,95 милијарди месечних упита након потпуне децентрализације

Ang Graph Network ay Nagtatala ng 1.95 Bilyong Buwanang Mga Query Pagkatapos ng Buong Desentralisasyon

Після повної децентралізації мережа Graph фіксує 1,95 мільярда запитів щомісяця

I-Graph Network Records i-1.95 yeBhiliyoni yeMibuzo yeNyanga emva kokwahlulwa ngokupheleleyo

The Graph Network has upgraded its support for the Solana blockchain to improve the development process for decentralized applications (dApps) on Solana. These enhancements provide Solana developers with better data tools and increased access to indexed Solana data through pre-built solutions from teams like Messari and Top Ledger. The Graph Network has introduced upgrades focused on Substreams-powered subgraphs (SpS). New code generation (codegen) tools developed by StreamingFast, part of The Graph ecosystem, are now available for both remote and local use. These tools help developers set up end-to-end Substreams projects more efficiently, allowing faster synchronization for those familiar with Substreams. Increasing Accessibility A notable aspect of the latest upgrades is the increased accessibility for developers who may not have prior experience with Substreams or Rust. The Graph has implemented tooling that allows developers to interact with Solana data without needing to engage directly with these specific technologies. This approach broadens the potential user base, enabling developers to leverage Solana’s capabilities using tools that align with their existing skills and project requirements. By lowering these barriers, The Graph fosters a more inclusive development environment, encouraging a diverse range of projects on the Solana network. Expanded Toolset and Pre-Built Solutions In addition to the improved Substreams tooling, The Graph has integrated Solana Substreams modules developed by Top Ledger and StreamingFast. These modules, along with multiple Substreams-powered subgraphs created by Messari, provide robust solutions for data indexing and retrieval. Developers can also utilize ready-made subgraphs, such as those for UNCX and Orca Whirlpool, which significantly reduce the time and effort required to implement complex functionalities in dApps. This expanded toolset not only accelerates development but also ensures that applications can access reliable and up-to-date data efficiently. Nick Hansen, Head of Growth at The Graph Foundation, commented on the upgrades: “The increase in developer and user activity on Solana has raised the demand for open, decentralized data. The Graph’s latest tooling upgrade and enhanced support will help the Solana community utilize the decentralized data layer of Web3 more effectively.” This feedback highlights the alignment between The Graph’s enhancements and the evolving needs of the Solana ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of robust data infrastructure in supporting rapid growth. Addressing Solana’s Needs Solana has gained traction in the blockchain space due to its high transaction speeds and low fees, making it suitable for a wide range of dApps and decentralized finance (DeFi) projects. As the Solana ecosystem continues to expand rapidly, the need for efficient data indexing and querying solutions has surged. The Graph’s upgrades aim to meet this demand by reducing costs, improving data sources, and enhancing the indexing stack. Additionally, The Graph now offers a historical cache of Solana blocks that is 25% the size of a full block, optimizing storage and retrieval processes. These improvements are crucial for maintaining performance and scalability as the volume of data and number of applications on Solana grow. The Graph’s upgrades are part of its broader mission to support a multi-chain future and enhance interoperability within the Web3 ecosystem. By refining its tooling for Solana, The Graph not only improves the developer experience on one of the leading blockchains but also contributes to the overall scalability and functionality of decentralized applications across different networks. This multi-chain support is essential in an increasingly interconnected blockchain landscape, where applications often need to interact with multiple platforms to deliver comprehensive solutions. Transition to Decentralization Earlier this year, The Graph Network transitioned from a free hosted service to a fully decentralized model. This shift ensures data autonomy and decentralization for developers and the broader Web3 ecosystem. With over 9,000 subgraphs in use, The Graph provides a scalable data infrastructure for developers on various blockchains, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon, Celo, Fantom, Gnosis, and Avalanche. This move reinforces The Graph’s commitment to decentralization, offering a more resilient and secure data indexing service that aligns with the foundational principles of Web3. By providing enhanced tooling and easier access to indexed data, The Graph lowers the technical barriers for developers, potentially increasing the number and diversity of dApps built on Solana. This can lead to a more vibrant and competitive ecosystem, attracting more users and investors. Moreover, the ability to efficiently index and query large volumes of data is critical for the growth of DeFi applications, which rely heavily on real-time data for functionalities such as lending, borrowing, and trading. The improved latency and scalability offered by FTSOv2 ensure that these applications can operate smoothly even as user activity and transaction volumes increase. The transition to a fully decentralized model also enhances the security and reliability of data services, which is paramount for maintaining user trust and safeguarding against potential data breaches or manipulations. As blockchain technology continues to evolve, robust data indexing solutions like those provided by The Graph will be integral to supporting innovative use cases and driving the next wave of decentralized applications. The Graph’s latest upgrades for Solana developers represent a significant advancement in the tools and resources available for building decentralized applications. By improving latency, scalability, and cost-efficiency, The Graph addresses the critical needs of the growing Solana ecosystem and supports the development of Web3 solutions. These enhancements not only benefit Solana developers but also contribute to a more interconnected and efficient decentralized web, fostering innovation and broader adoption of blockchain technology. Don’t forget to like and share the story! Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR The Graph Network has upgraded its support for the Solana blockchain to improve the development process for decentralized applications (dApps) on Solana. These enhancements provide Solana developers with better data tools and increased access to indexed Solana data through pre-built solutions from teams like Messari and Top Ledger. Graph Network The Graph Network has introduced upgrades focused on Substreams-powered subgraphs (SpS). New code generation (codegen) tools developed by StreamingFast, part of The Graph ecosystem, are now available for both remote and local use. These tools help developers set up end-to-end Substreams projects more efficiently, allowing faster synchronization for those familiar with Substreams. Increasing Accessibility A notable aspect of the latest upgrades is the increased accessibility for developers who may not have prior experience with Substreams or Rust. The Graph has implemented tooling that allows developers to interact with Solana data without needing to engage directly with these specific technologies. This approach broadens the potential user base, enabling developers to leverage Solana’s capabilities using tools that align with their existing skills and project requirements. By lowering these barriers, The Graph fosters a more inclusive development environment, encouraging a diverse range of projects on the Solana network. Expanded Toolset and Pre-Built Solutions In addition to the improved Substreams tooling, The Graph has integrated Solana Substreams modules developed by Top Ledger and StreamingFast. These modules, along with multiple Substreams-powered subgraphs created by Messari, provide robust solutions for data indexing and retrieval. Developers can also utilize ready-made subgraphs, such as those for UNCX and Orca Whirlpool, which significantly reduce the time and effort required to implement complex functionalities in dApps. This expanded toolset not only accelerates development but also ensures that applications can access reliable and up-to-date data efficiently. Nick Hansen, Head of Growth at The Graph Foundation, commented on the upgrades: “The increase in developer and user activity on Solana has raised the demand for open, decentralized data. The Graph’s latest tooling upgrade and enhanced support will help the Solana community utilize the decentralized data layer of Web3 more effectively.” This feedback highlights the alignment between The Graph’s enhancements and the evolving needs of the Solana ecosystem, emphasizing the importance of robust data infrastructure in supporting rapid growth. Addressing Solana’s Needs Solana has gained traction in the blockchain space due to its high transaction speeds and low fees, making it suitable for a wide range of dApps and decentralized finance (DeFi) projects. As the Solana ecosystem continues to expand rapidly, the need for efficient data indexing and querying solutions has surged. The Graph’s upgrades aim to meet this demand by reducing costs, improving data sources, and enhancing the indexing stack. Additionally, The Graph now offers a historical cache of Solana blocks that is 25% the size of a full block, optimizing storage and retrieval processes. These improvements are crucial for maintaining performance and scalability as the volume of data and number of applications on Solana grow. The Graph’s upgrades are part of its broader mission to support a multi-chain future and enhance interoperability within the Web3 ecosystem. By refining its tooling for Solana, The Graph not only improves the developer experience on one of the leading blockchains but also contributes to the overall scalability and functionality of decentralized applications across different networks. This multi-chain support is essential in an increasingly interconnected blockchain landscape, where applications often need to interact with multiple platforms to deliver comprehensive solutions. Transition to Decentralization Earlier this year, The Graph Network transitioned from a free hosted service to a fully decentralized model. This shift ensures data autonomy and decentralization for developers and the broader Web3 ecosystem. With over 9,000 subgraphs in use, The Graph provides a scalable data infrastructure for developers on various blockchains, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, Polygon, Celo, Fantom, Gnosis, and Avalanche. This move reinforces The Graph’s commitment to decentralization, offering a more resilient and secure data indexing service that aligns with the foundational principles of Web3. By providing enhanced tooling and easier access to indexed data, The Graph lowers the technical barriers for developers, potentially increasing the number and diversity of dApps built on Solana. This can lead to a more vibrant and competitive ecosystem, attracting more users and investors. Moreover, the ability to efficiently index and query large volumes of data is critical for the growth of DeFi applications, which rely heavily on real-time data for functionalities such as lending, borrowing, and trading. The improved latency and scalability offered by FTSOv2 ensure that these applications can operate smoothly even as user activity and transaction volumes increase. The transition to a fully decentralized model also enhances the security and reliability of data services, which is paramount for maintaining user trust and safeguarding against potential data breaches or manipulations. As blockchain technology continues to evolve, robust data indexing solutions like those provided by The Graph will be integral to supporting innovative use cases and driving the next wave of decentralized applications. The Graph’s latest upgrades for Solana developers represent a significant advancement in the tools and resources available for building decentralized applications. By improving latency, scalability, and cost-efficiency, The Graph addresses the critical needs of the growing Solana ecosystem and supports the development of Web3 solutions. These enhancements not only benefit Solana developers but also contribute to a more interconnected and efficient decentralized web, fostering innovation and broader adoption of blockchain technology. Don’t forget to like and share the story! Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our business blogging program . HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR Vested Interest Disclosure: business blogging program business blogging program

The Graph Upgrades Tooling for Solana Developers to Accelerate DApp Deployment

DApp tətbiqini sürətləndirmək üçün Solana Tərtibatçıları üçün Qrafik Təkmilləşdirmə Alətləri

Графиката надгражда инструменти за разработчици на Solana за ускоряване на внедряването на DApp

The Graph actualiza las herramientas para que los desarrolladores de Solana aceleren la implementación de DApp

The Graph met à niveau les outils pour les développeurs Solana afin d'accélérer le déploiement des DApp

A Graph Upgrade Tooling a Solana fejlesztők számára a DApp telepítésének felgyorsítása érdekében

The Graph、Solana開発者向けツールをアップグレードし、DAppの展開を加速

The Graph, Solana 개발자를 위한 도구 업그레이드로 DApp 배포 가속화

Graph ulepsza narzędzia dla programistów Solana, aby przyspieszyć wdrażanie DApp

DApp යෙදවීම වේගවත් කිරීම සඳහා Solana සංවර්ධකයින් සඳහා ප්‍රස්ථාරය වැඩිදියුණු කිරීමේ මෙවලම්

Grafen uppgraderar verktyg för Solana-utvecklare för att påskynda DApp-distribution

Switirhisiwa swa ku Ndlandlamuxa Girafamu swa Vatumbuluxi va Solana ku Hatlisisa ku Tirhisiwa ka DApp

IsiXhobo soPhuculo lweGrafu kubaPhuhlisi beSolana ukukhawulezisa ukusasazwa kwe-DApp

Sometimes, transferring cryptocurrency funds or using certain applications could have a steep learning curve. That’s partly because there aren’t only one or three cryptocurrencies around these days, but thousands of them. Besides, it isn’t uncommon anymore to handle funds across several crypto platforms, using different coins. That’s why all crypto users need to know the difference between networks, tokens, and coins before sending or locking money into the wrong address. Another solid reason to try and use different platforms is for the involved fees. Using the same token in one network may be cheaper and faster than in another, so learning how to choose the most convenient option doesn’t hurt.  Let’s check how that works. Networks, Ledgers, or Chains Maybe the first thing that comes to your mind when trading cryptocurrencies is that you’re using X currency (namely BTC, ETH, GBYTE, etc.), and that’s it. But actually, that’s not it. There’s a layer beneath what you can see: the infrastructure in which that coin, token, or contract inhabit and whose rules that transaction can’t but obey. That’s the network, distributed ledger, or chain involved. A crypto network, distributed ledger, or chain refers to a decentralized system that securely records transactions across multiple computers and has its own set of rules and features. The terms aren’t equivalent in all contexts, but for final users, they all describe the same underlying technology. The fundamental layer, or the system (rules and fees included) you’re using to transact, and that’s different from the coin you selected. Let’s use an example here with the stablecoin USD Coin (USDC). Originally, this was a token that worked on Ethereum only (the network, not the ETH coin), but nowit’s available in at least 16 more chains, including Avalanche, Celo, Flow, Polygon, and Obyte. Each one of these networks has its own version of USDC with its own address type. This occurs because USDC aims to be interoperable instead of working on just one network, and ledgers don’t natively connect with each other. Besides, trading USDC on Ethereum is different from trading USDC on Obyte, for instance. Same token, but different networks, which implies different rules and costs. Ethereum average transaction fee (for ETH and all tokens) is currently at around $3.4. On the other hand, a transaction on Obyte often costs $0.00001. Therefore, in that case, trading USDC on Obyte would be cheaper than on Ethereum. Because again, same token, but different ledgers. Tokens vs. Native Coins The main distinction between these two types of coins is simple enough. Native coins, like ETH or GBYTE, are necessary for the respective network’s (Ethereum or Obyte) operation, while tokens are not. Native coins depend on the network and the network depends on them too, while for tokens, like the aforementioned USDC, the dependence is one-sided: they depend on the network, but not the other way around. Usability is another factor. So, for instance, on Ethereum and similar networks, sending a native coin to a contract immediately triggers contract execution. However, to achieve the same effect with tokens, users first have to approve the contract to spend their tokens, then call the contract. That's two steps — a bit complicated. On the contrary, in Obyte, sending both native coins and tokens to an Autonomous Agent (AA) triggers its execution. Always one step and the same flow for both native coins and tokens. This is an exception among networks and not the rule, though. Other than the mentioned differences, ‘native coins’ and ‘tokens’ can be identical things: coins built with cryptography within a distributed network. However, how a certain asset is perceived in the crypto world could be important for its value and trading methods. Tokens, like stablecoins, are considered the same across different networks because they represent the same underlying value or asset, no matter where they are issued. For instance, a stablecoin like USDC on Ethereum and USDC on TRON both represent the same thing: a token backed by the U.S. dollar with the same price and purpose. These tokens are created following specific standards, which makes them function similarly across different networks, even though they exist in separate environments. Native coins, like ETH on Ethereum or BTC on Bitcoin, are deeply tied to their respective chains, and their functionality is specific to that network. Its value also comes from that network and its features, and not from an external asset or platform. When these native coins are used on a different network, they become "wrapped" versions (like Wrapped ETH or Wrapped BTC). This means the original coin is locked in a contract, and a tokenized version is created on another network. Wrapped tokens act as placeholders, but they aren’t the actual native asset—they’re representations of them. That’s why they’re treated differently, and traded separately on exchanges. Non-native tokens can also be wrapped to port them into different networks, but they’re often still treated and traded as the same thing, as we mentioned before. Cross-chain Bridges These are handy tools that allow users to transfer assets and data between different crypto networks. They work by locking assets on one chain and minting equivalent assets on another, enabling users to interact with multiple ecosystems seamlessly. This way you could, for instance, exchange USDC on the Ethereum network for the same amount on the Obyte network. We have the Counterstake Bridge for that. In any case, if you’re using a token, remember to pick the network wisely. Fees and features will change accordingly. If you’re using a native coin, you may be already on their network, or explicitly using a wrapped version of it –and its ticker may give you a good clue (WBTC, for example). There are numerous multi-chain wallets, such as MetaMask, that will allow you to handle a diverse portfolio. Featured Vector Image by Freepik Sometimes, transferring cryptocurrency funds or using certain applications could have a steep learning curve. That’s partly because there aren’t only one or three cryptocurrencies around these days, but thousands of them. Besides, it isn’t uncommon anymore to handle funds across several crypto platforms, using different coins. That’s why all crypto users need to know the difference between networks, tokens, and coins before sending or locking money into the wrong address. Another solid reason to try and use different platforms is for the involved fees. Using the same token in one network may be cheaper and faster than in another, so learning how to choose the most convenient option doesn’t hurt.  Let’s check how that works. Networks, Ledgers, or Chains Maybe the first thing that comes to your mind when trading cryptocurrencies is that you’re using X currency (namely BTC, ETH, GBYTE, etc.), and that’s it. But actually, that’s not it. There’s a layer beneath what you can see: the infrastructure in which that coin, token, or contract inhabit and whose rules that transaction can’t but obey. That’s the network, distributed ledger, or chain involved. A crypto network, distributed ledger, or chain refers to a decentralized system that securely records transactions across multiple computers and has its own set of rules and features. The terms aren’t equivalent in all contexts, but for final users, they all describe the same underlying technology. The fundamental layer, or the system (rules and fees included) you’re using to transact, and that’s different from the coin you selected. A crypto network, distributed ledger, or chain refers to a decentralized system that securely records transactions across multiple computers and has its own set of rules and features. Let’s use an example here with the stablecoin USD Coin (USDC). Originally, this was a token that worked on Ethereum only (the network, not the ETH coin), but now it’s available in at least 16 more chains, including Avalanche, Celo, Flow, Polygon, and Obyte . Each one of these networks has its own version of USDC with its own address type. This occurs because USDC aims to be interoperable instead of working on just one network, and ledgers don’t natively connect with each other. it’s available it’s available Obyte Obyte Besides, trading USDC on Ethereum is different from trading USDC on Obyte, for instance. Same token, but different networks, which implies different rules and costs. Ethereum average transaction fee (for ETH and all tokens) is currently at around $3.4. On the other hand, a transaction on Obyte often costs $0.00001. Therefore, in that case, trading USDC on Obyte would be cheaper than on Ethereum. Because again, same token, but different ledgers. is currently is currently Tokens vs. Native Coins The main distinction between these two types of coins is simple enough . Native coins, like ETH or GBYTE, are necessary for the respective network’s (Ethereum or Obyte) operation, while tokens are not. Native coins depend on the network and the network depends on them too, while for tokens, like the aforementioned USDC, the dependence is one-sided: they depend on the network, but not the other way around. simple enough simple enough Native coins, like ETH or GBYTE, are necessary for the respective network’s (Ethereum or Obyte) operation, while tokens are not. Usability is another factor. So, for instance, on Ethereum and similar networks, sending a native coin to a contract immediately triggers contract execution. However, to achieve the same effect with tokens, users first have to approve the contract to spend their tokens, then call the contract. That's two steps — a bit complicated. On the contrary, in Obyte , sending both native coins and tokens to an Autonomous Agent (AA) triggers its execution. Always one step and the same flow for both native coins and tokens. This is an exception among networks and not the rule, though. in Obyte Other than the mentioned differences, ‘native coins’ and ‘tokens’ can be identical things: coins built with cryptography within a distributed network. However, how a certain asset is perceived in the crypto world could be important for its value and trading methods. Tokens, like stablecoins, are considered the same across different networks because they represent the same underlying value or asset, no matter where they are issued. For instance, a stablecoin like USDC on Ethereum and USDC on TRON both represent the same thing: a token backed by the U.S. dollar with the same price and purpose. These tokens are created following specific standards, which makes them function similarly across different networks, even though they exist in separate environments. Tokens, like stablecoins, are considered the same across different networks because they represent the same underlying value or asset, no matter where they are issued. Native coins, like ETH on Ethereum or BTC on Bitcoin, are deeply tied to their respective chains, and their functionality is specific to that network. Its value also comes from that network and its features, and not from an external asset or platform. When these native coins are used on a different network, they become "wrapped" versions (like Wrapped ETH or Wrapped BTC). This means the original coin is locked in a contract, and a tokenized version is created on another network. Wrapped tokens act as placeholders, but they aren’t the actual native asset—they’re representations of them. That’s why they’re treated differently, and traded separately on exchanges. Non-native tokens can also be wrapped to port them into different networks, but they’re often still treated and traded as the same thing, as we mentioned before. Cross-chain Bridges These are handy tools that allow users to transfer assets and data between different crypto networks. They work by locking assets on one chain and minting equivalent assets on another, enabling users to interact with multiple ecosystems seamlessly. This way you could, for instance, exchange USDC on the Ethereum network for the same amount on the Obyte network. We have the Counterstake Bridge for that. They work by locking assets on one chain and minting equivalent assets on another, enabling users to interact with multiple ecosystems seamlessly. Counterstake Bridge Counterstake Bridge In any case, if you’re using a token, remember to pick the network wisely. Fees and features will change accordingly. If you’re using a native coin, you may be already on their network, or explicitly using a wrapped version of it –and its ticker may give you a good clue (WBTC, for example). There are numerous multi-chain wallets, such as MetaMask, that will allow you to handle a diverse portfolio. Featured Vector Image by Freepik Featured Vector Image by Freepik Freepik Freepik

Educational Byte: Using Coins and Tokens in Different Crypto Networks

Навучальны байт: выкарыстанне манет і токенаў у розных крыптасетках

Vzdělávací bajt: Používání mincí a tokenů v různých krypto sítích

Byte educativo: uso de monedas y tokens en diferentes redes criptográficas

Byte éducatif : Utilisation des pièces et des jetons dans différents réseaux cryptographiques

Byte educativo: Usando moedas e fichas en diferentes redes criptográficas

教育バイト: さまざまな暗号ネットワークでのコインとトークンの使用

Боловсролын байт: Төрөл бүрийн крипто сүлжээнд зоос ба жетон ашиглах

शैक्षिक बाइट: विभिन्न क्रिप्टो नेटवर्कहरूमा सिक्का र टोकनहरू प्रयोग गर्दै

Байти таълимӣ: Истифодаи тангаҳо ва токенҳо дар шабакаҳои гуногуни крипто

Навчальний байт: використання монет і токенів у різних криптомережах

تعلیمی بائٹ: مختلف کرپٹو نیٹ ورکس میں سکے اور ٹوکن کا استعمال

Ta'lim bayti: turli kripto tarmoqlarida tangalar va tokenlardan foydalanish

An Overview of the Data-Loader Landscape: Conclusion, Acknowledgments, and References

ডেটা-লোডার ল্যান্ডস্কেপের একটি ওভারভিউ: উপসংহার, স্বীকৃতি এবং রেফারেন্স

Ein Überblick über die Data-Loader-Landschaft: Fazit, Danksagungen und Referenzen

Una descripción general del panorama del cargador de datos: conclusión, agradecimientos y referencias

Un aperçu du paysage des chargeurs de données : conclusion, remerciements et références

डेटा-लोडर परिदृश्य का अवलोकन: निष्कर्ष, आभार और संदर्भ

データローダーの概要: 結論、謝辞、参考文献

Data-Loader 환경 개요: 결론, 승인 및 참고 자료

Uma visão geral do cenário do Data-Loader: conclusão, agradecimentos e referências

Обзор ландшафта загрузчиков данных: заключение, благодарности и ссылки

Veri Yükleyici Ortamına Genel Bakış: Sonuç, Teşekkür ve Referanslar

Tổng quan về bối cảnh trình tải dữ liệu: Kết luận, lời cảm ơn và tài liệu tham khảo

数据加载器概况：结论、致谢和参考文献

How Chain Capital Backed U2U Network Plans to Attract Users to Web3 with DePIN

কিভাবে U2U নেটওয়ার্ক পরবর্তী 100 মিলিয়ন SEA ব্যবহারকারীদের Web3-এ আকৃষ্ট করার পরিকল্পনা করছে

Wie U2U Network die nächsten 100 Millionen SEA-Benutzer für Web3 gewinnen will

Cómo planea la red U2U atraer a los próximos 100 millones de usuarios de SEA a Web3

Comment le réseau U2U prévoit d'attirer les 100 millions d'utilisateurs SEA vers le Web3

U2U नेटवर्क अगले 100 मिलियन SEA उपयोगकर्ताओं को Web3 की ओर आकर्षित करने की योजना कैसे बना रहा है

U2U ネットワークが次の 1 億人の東南アジア ユーザーを Web3 に引き付ける計画

U2U 네트워크가 다음 1억 SEA 사용자를 Web3로 유치할 계획을 세우는 방법

Como a rede U2U planeja atrair os próximos 100 milhões de usuários SEA para a Web3

Как сеть U2U планирует привлечь следующие 100 миллионов пользователей SEA в Web3

U2U Ağı Sonraki 100 Milyon SEA Kullanıcısını Web3'e Nasıl Çekmeyi Planlıyor?

Mạng U2U có kế hoạch thu hút 100 triệu người dùng SEA tiếp theo vào Web3 như thế nào

U2U 网络计划如何吸引下一个 1 亿东南亚用户使用 Web3

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