Hello, fellow blockchain enthusiasts! This week has been a whirlwind in the crypto world, with Block Earner’s ASIC court case making headlines and stirring up excitement. We also see many folks jet off to Dubai this week to take part in Token2049 over there. We'll no doubt bring you the coverage but we'll be leadin the FOMO charge here that's for sure.
Also, before we continue further, we have an event on with our friends at Stand With Crypto Australia this Wednesday 30th April at Stone & Chalk. Link here: https://lu.ma/9cgf9ril
Block Earner Triumphs! Congratulations to Block Earner on getting their ASIC court case overturned! This is a significant win for them and a positive step forward for the industry. For a detailed breakdown of the events, check out the coverage from Bits of Blocks here: https://www.bitsofblocks.io/post/block-earner-triumphs-in-asic-appeal
Exchange Blues It seems the market is feeling a little sluggish, as exchange volumes have fallen to six-month lows. Traders are shifting their focus from spot trading to futures. Dive into the details here: https://www.theblock.co/post/351318/crypto-exchange-volume-falls-to-6-month-low-as-traders-flee-spot-for-futures
Podcast Highlights Last week, we were thrilled to see Richelle Cox and Steve Vallas from Blockchain APAC gracing the Independent Reserve podcast!
If you missed it, catch up here: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/richelle-cox_made-the-trip-to-sydney-yesterday-to-join-activity-7320579026400542721-Acu1?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&utm_rcm=ACoAAAV7RT0Bf0fJj7zr6JDyM7Fh2-KhNgJf4dk
Dave Portnoy's Hot Take In a bold statement, Dave Portnoy of Barstool Sports has called out memecoins, labeling them as legalized ponzi schemes. Check out his fiery opinion here: https://www.coindesk.com/video/dave-portnoy-memecoins-are-legalized-ponzi-schemes
Blockchain Sensitivity Vincent Gramoli from Redbelly Network has penned an intriguing piece on the sensitivity of blockchain technology to failures. It’s a must-read for those interested in the robustness of our systems.
Read it here: https://x.com/RedbellyNetwork/status/1915329083279364480. You can also find the research on the Redbelly Network’s page: https://redbelly.network/research/stabl-the-sensitivity-of-blockchains-to-failures
And we had our own deep dive that you can do on this paper (and others like it on our Aus DeFi website: https://x.com/AusDeFi/status/1915918754610917447
Crypto Hacks Surge Hold onto your wallets! Crypto hacks are on the rise, with a staggering $1.7 billion in hacks reported in Q1 alone. For a deeper dive into the alarming trend, check out this article: https://blockchaintechnology-news.com/news/crypto-theft-tops-1-billion-in-q1-2025-as-hacks-surge/
Web3 Gaming Boom Web3 gaming has had a breakout year, largely thanks to advancements in AI and a hefty financial boost. If you're curious about the future of gaming in our digital landscape, read more here: https://www.ccn.com/news/crypto/2025-web3-gaming-ai-12b/
EVM Simplification? Could a simpler Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) be on the horizon? Vitalik Buterin is exploring this possibility, which could pave the way for more efficient development. Get all the details here: https://cryptoslate.com/vitalik-buterin-explores-sunsetting-the-evm-in-favor-of-a-simpler-ethereum-execution-model/
Bankless Podcast Lastly, don’t miss this week’s episode of Bankless, where they welcome back Ryan Sean-Adams, the OG host of the show. It's sure to be a great listen! Catch it here:
That’s a wrap for this week’s Chain Reaction! Stay curious and keep innovating!
About Aus DeFi Association
The Australian DeFi Association (Aus DeFi) is a non-profit community organisation dedicated to increasing education and awareness of blockchain technology, specifically decentralised finance (DeFi) and web3-based projects. Their goal is to empower the Australian community with the knowledge and tools to participate in the decentralised economy, and to promote the adoption and growth of blockchain technology in Australia. They strive to provide a more grassroots approach to promoting blockchain technology compared to other industry-focused organisations in Australia, and to provide a platform for community members to learn about and engage with this emerging technology.
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