Jacquelyn Melinek

<div id="highlights-block_620fcebd50d0c" class="highlights">
        <ul>
                <li>The ecosystem program will launch in tandem with SKALE V2, or SKALEverse</li>
                <li>The network aims to onboard billions of users and has a focus on NFTs, DeFi and Web3</li>
            </ul>
    
</div>



<p>Ethereum-focused multi-chain network SKALE set up a $100 million grant program to fund the future of blockchain-based gaming.</p>



<p>The company announced the initiative at the ETHDenver conference on Friday. The capital will be used to increase and onboard applications and projects to the SKALE network.&nbsp;</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="alignright size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="300" height="300" src="https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/d4a71f7d-acce-42da-857f-c0b981b45e7c_Jack_OHolleran_SKALE_Co-Founder_CEO.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-17630" srcset="https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/d4a71f7d-acce-42da-857f-c0b981b45e7c_Jack_OHolleran_SKALE_Co-Founder_CEO.jpeg?w=300 300w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/d4a71f7d-acce-42da-857f-c0b981b45e7c_Jack_OHolleran_SKALE_Co-Founder_CEO.jpeg?w=150 150w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/d4a71f7d-acce-42da-857f-c0b981b45e7c_Jack_OHolleran_SKALE_Co-Founder_CEO.jpeg?w=257 257w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/d4a71f7d-acce-42da-857f-c0b981b45e7c_Jack_OHolleran_SKALE_Co-Founder_CEO.jpeg?w=261 261w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/d4a71f7d-acce-42da-857f-c0b981b45e7c_Jack_OHolleran_SKALE_Co-Founder_CEO.jpeg?w=219 219w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/d4a71f7d-acce-42da-857f-c0b981b45e7c_Jack_OHolleran_SKALE_Co-Founder_CEO.jpeg?w=80 80w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/d4a71f7d-acce-42da-857f-c0b981b45e7c_Jack_OHolleran_SKALE_Co-Founder_CEO.jpeg?w=50 50w" sizes="(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /><figcaption> SKALE Co-founder Jack O’Holleran</figcaption></figure></div>



<p>The Network of Decentralized Economics (NODE) will kick-start the program with $5 million to creators focused on blockchain gaming, play-to-earn gaming and the metaverse.</p>



<p>The launch is timed in tandem with the network’s next iteration, dubbed, <a href="https://skale.network/blog/into-the-skaleverse-introducing-skale-v2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">SKALE V2</a>, or SKALEverse, which aims to optimize features like chain-to-chain transfers, creating ecosystem hubs, NFT marketplaces and faster game modes.</p>



<p>Like most blockchains, the network aims to onboard billions of users and has a focus on NFTs (non-fungible tokens), DeFi and Web3.</p>



<p>Its network helps blockchain games build experiences for users, including zero fees or gasless transactions, plus supporting interconnected and interactive blockchains, SKALE Co-founder Jack O’Holleran said in a statement.</p>



<p>This launch is the latest step for the blockchain gaming space writ large, which has expanded over the past 12 months and is drawing increasing attention from big-time investors and funds.</p>



<p>Earlier this month, Gamestop and Immutable launched a <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/gamestop-immutable-to-launch-100-joint-fund-for-gaming-nfts/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$100 million</a> joint fund for gaming NFTs. In November, Forte added <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/?s=gaming#:~:text=Forte%20Adds%20%24725%20Million%20in%20Funding%20to%20Push%20Blockchain%20Gaming%20Forward" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">$725 million</a> in funding earmarked for blockchain games in one of the largest funding rounds of the year.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



<p><strong>Start your day with top crypto insights from David Canellis and Katherine Ross. <a href="https://blockworks.co/newsletter/empire">Subscribe to the Empire newsletter</a>.</strong></p>


Ethereum Multi-chain Network SKALE Earmarks $100M To Fuel Blockchain Gaming

Sam Martin

<div id="highlights-block_617725d07bf3f" class="highlights">
        <ul>
                <li>The Bitcoin Network has successfully implemented the highly anticipated Taproot upgrade</li>
                <li>Paraswap announced a new airdrop strategy in an attempt to out-smart &#8216;airdrop hunters&#8217;</li>
            </ul>
    
</div>



<p>Taproot is officially live as Bitcoin successfully underwent its largest upgrade in roughly four years. </p>



<p>The Bitcoin Lightning Network continues to expand its channel count, node count and liquidity. </p>



<p>Senators Lummis and Wyden propose a bill to clarify tax reporting requirements for industry players.  </p>



<p>Paraswap rolled out a retroactive airdrop of its token PSP, allocating 7.5% of the 2 billion token supply to early, active users.</p>



<p>NFTs are seeing a resurgence in volume to kick off the week. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Latest in Macro:</strong></h3>



<ul><li>S&amp;P 500: 4,682, +.00%</li><li>NASDAQ: 15,853, -.04%</li><li>Gold: $1,862, -.14%</li><li>WTI Crude Oil: $80.95, +.20%</li><li>10-Year Treasury: 1.625%, +.041%</li></ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Latest in Crypto:</strong></h3>



<ul><li>BTC: $64,011, -.19%</li><li>ETH: $4,569, +.44%</li><li>ETH/BTC: .0716, +1.56%</li><li>BTC.D: 43.45%, -.57%</li></ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Taproot</h3>



<p>Yesterday, Bitcoin block 709,632 was processed and the <a href="https://cms.blockworks.co/anticipating-bitcoins-taproot-upgrade-heres-what-you-need-to-know/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taproot upgrade</a> was activated. This is widely considered to be the largest update to Bitcoin in the past four years.</p>



<p>The Taproot upgrade enables Schnorr signatures, taproot and tapscript, according to a <a href="https://kraken.docsend.com/view/9e9y7may8526z934" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kraken Intelligence paper</a>. While users should not expect Ethereum-like smart contract capabilities, it is a big step that lays the ground work for innovation atop of the Bitcoin network.  </p>



<p>Noelle Acheson, Head of Market Insights at Genesis, noted the important enhancements in an email to Blockworks: </p>



<ul><li>It will boost Bitcoin’s smart contract functionality, potentially broadening its use cases.</li><li>It increases privacy by obscuring what type of transaction is being executed.</li><li>Bitcoin transactions will become more data-efficient, which could optimize block capacity and lead to lower transaction fees.</li><li>Taproot&nbsp;makes transactions on the Lightning Network more flexible and more private, which should further boost Bitcoin adoption.</li></ul>



<p>A rough timeline of the Taproot upgrade from birth to implementation:</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="750" height="609" src="https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-3.01.24-PM.png" alt="" class="wp-image-11195" srcset="https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-3.01.24-PM.png?w=750 750w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-3.01.24-PM.png?w=300 300w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-3.01.24-PM.png?w=317 317w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-3.01.24-PM.png?w=321 321w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-3.01.24-PM.png?w=270 270w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-3.01.24-PM.png?w=80 80w" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" /><figcaption>Source: Kraken Intelligence</figcaption></figure></div>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">The Lightning Network</h3>



<p>The Lightning Network (LN) is a protocol that enables high­-volume, low­-latency digital micropayments without the need for trusted intermediaries, according to the project&#8217;s <a href="https://lightning.network/lightning-network-technical-summary.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">website</a>. Using novel Bitcoin multi-signature transactions and scripts, Lightning participants do not give unilateral custody of funds to a third party, reducing transaction costs and counterparty risk.</p>



<p>Bitcoin node operators are able to download the Lightning Network daemon, fund their Lightning account, and begin opening channels in exchange for <a href="https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/how-to-operate-a-profitable-lightning-node-2021-03-01" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">some passive income</a>. </p>



<p><a href="https://defipulse.com/lightning-network" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Defi Pulse</a> explains that because LN nodes (i.e., users in LN channels) are interconnected, nodes do not always need to open a direct channel with everyone they want to transact with. Payments can be routed through other channels, provided that a path with adequate liquidity exists between the two transacting nodes.</p>



<p>The Lightning Network has seen massive growth over the past year, with the total number of channels open <a href="https://1ml.com/statistics" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">crossing 80,000</a> and the amount of liquidity continuously reaching all-time highs. The more channels and liquidity in the LN, the more useful it becomes. Some of this growth is likely attributed to the <a href="https://cloudtweaks.com/2021/07/how-bitcoin-brought-lightning-network-el-salvador/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adoption of BTC as legal tender</a> in El Salvador. </p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="700" height="450" src="https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Unknown-2.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11200" srcset="https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Unknown-2.jpg?w=700 700w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Unknown-2.jpg?w=300 300w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Unknown-2.jpg?w=400 400w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Unknown-2.jpg?w=406 406w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Unknown-2.jpg?w=341 341w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Unknown-2.jpg?w=80 80w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption>Source: lookintobitcoin.com</figcaption></figure></div>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Senators propose fix to crypto reporting laws</h3>



<p>Senators Wyden and Lummis introduced a bill to narrow some of the cryptocurrency tax reporting rules in the Infrastructure Bill being signed into law today, according to a <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-15/senators-seek-crypto-reporting-fix-as-biden-signs-infrastructure?sref=uaUCx1z2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bloomberg article</a>. The primary goal of the proposal is to ensure innovation is not stifled due to a lack of clarity around reporting requirements in the bill.</p>



<p>“Our bill makes clear that the new reporting requirements do not apply to individuals developing blockchain technology and wallets,” Wyden said in a statement. “This will protect American innovation while at the same time ensuring those who buy and sell cryptocurrency pay the taxes they already owe.”</p>



<p>Senator Lummis, a long-time supporter of Bitcoin, has been very vocal about her concerns related to government spending and its resulting inflation. She took to <a href="https://twitter.com/CynthiaMLummis/status/1458475839641763844?s=20" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Twitter</a> to say &#8220;Bottom line: Inflation is a reflection of the debasement of US dollars by the federal government. New spending is at the root of the price increases at your grocery store.&#8221;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="731" src="https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/goldvinflationvbtc-1024x731.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11203" srcset="https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/goldvinflationvbtc-1024x731.jpg?w=1024 1024w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/goldvinflationvbtc-1024x731.jpg?w=300 300w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/goldvinflationvbtc-1024x731.jpg?w=768 768w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/goldvinflationvbtc-1024x731.jpg?w=1536 1536w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/goldvinflationvbtc-1024x731.jpg?w=360 360w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/goldvinflationvbtc-1024x731.jpg?w=366 366w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/goldvinflationvbtc-1024x731.jpg?w=307 307w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/goldvinflationvbtc-1024x731.jpg?w=80 80w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/goldvinflationvbtc-1024x731.jpg?w=2000 2000w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Source: Ycharts</figcaption></figure>



<p>Despite the successful implementation of Taproot, red-hot inflation numbers and a positive regulatory proposal, the BTC price has traded flat to negative over the last 24 hours. BTC was last hovering near $64,000, down roughly .5% on the day. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Paraswap airdrop</h3>



<p>Paraswap, a decentralized exchange (DEX) aggregator that provides rates over multiple DEXs on the Ethereum blockchain, airdropped its token (PSP) to certain users this morning. Roughly 20,000 addresses were allocated 7.5% of the 2 billion PSP token supply. </p>



<p>The Paraswap team noticed a large amount of &#8216;airdrop hunters&#8217; and chose to select eligible recipients based on various usage metrics from a snapshot taken on Oct. 8, rather than airdropping tokens to every wallet that used Paraswap. Paraswap detailed its plan in a company released medium <a href="https://medium.com/paraswap/whats-an-active-user-clarifying-psp-token-distribution-filtering-logic-81df6096d410" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">article</a>, however, the airdrop led to confusion and discontent among users.</p>



<p>An overview of the PSP airdrop can be seen in the following photo:</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="492" src="https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.41.33-PM-1024x492.png" alt="" class="wp-image-11188" srcset="https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.41.33-PM-1024x492.png?w=1024 1024w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.41.33-PM-1024x492.png?w=300 300w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.41.33-PM-1024x492.png?w=768 768w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.41.33-PM-1024x492.png?w=428 428w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.41.33-PM-1024x492.png?w=470 470w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.41.33-PM-1024x492.png?w=389 389w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.41.33-PM-1024x492.png?w=80 80w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.41.33-PM-1024x492.png?w=1404 1404w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Source: Dune Analytics</figcaption></figure></div>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs)</h3>



<p>NFTs are starting to see signs of life after a rough week last week. Bored Ape Yacht Club and its&#8217; Mutant derivative have seen a lot of attention today. Trading data from <a href="https://opensea.io/rankings" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">OpenSea</a> and <a href="https://solanalysis.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Solanalysis</a> of some of the top Solana and Ethereum projects can be found below:</p>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="332" src="https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.37-PM-1024x332.png" alt="" class="wp-image-11189" srcset="https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.37-PM-1024x332.png?w=1024 1024w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.37-PM-1024x332.png?w=300 300w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.37-PM-1024x332.png?w=768 768w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.37-PM-1024x332.png?w=428 428w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.37-PM-1024x332.png?w=470 470w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.37-PM-1024x332.png?w=389 389w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.37-PM-1024x332.png?w=80 80w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.37-PM-1024x332.png?w=1238 1238w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Top Ethereum Projects</figcaption></figure></div>



<div class="wp-block-image"><figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="283" src="https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.45-PM-1024x283.png" alt="" class="wp-image-11191" srcset="https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.45-PM-1024x283.png?w=1024 1024w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.45-PM-1024x283.png?w=300 300w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.45-PM-1024x283.png?w=768 768w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.45-PM-1024x283.png?w=428 428w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.45-PM-1024x283.png?w=470 470w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.45-PM-1024x283.png?w=389 389w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.45-PM-1024x283.png?w=80 80w, https://blockworks-co.imgix.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Screen-Shot-2021-11-15-at-2.42.45-PM-1024x283.png?w=1214 1214w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption>Top Solana Projects </figcaption></figure></div>



<p>If you made it this far, thanks for reading! I am looking forward to catching up tomorrow.</p>



<hr class="wp-block-separator"/>



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