Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

2025 was a defining year for Threshold Network and its core product, tBTC. Across networks, integrations, and infrastructure, the protocol continued to strengthen its role as a multi-chain Bitcoin asset, with steady adoption and evident progress across key metrics.

By year’s end, cumulative transaction volume reached 26,355 BTC, reflecting sustained usage as Bitcoin liquidity moved onchain across an expanding set of environments.

tBTC 2025 Wrapped Video by Threshold Network

Supply Growth and Network MilestonesOn October 8, 2025, tBTC reached several important milestones. Total value locked peaked at 6,500 BTC, while total supply reached its highest level in USD terms at $806,124,000. These figures marked a high point for tBTC’s presence across supported networks.

Just days later, on October 12, tBTC recorded its highest holder count of the year, reaching 18,136 holders—highlighting broad participation across chains.

tBTC 2025 in Review - Highest TVL

tBTC 2025 in Review - Peak SupplyProduct Evolution and Strategic RepositioningA significant milestone for tBTC in 2025 came on November 11, with the launch of both a redesigned tBTC application and a refreshed Threshold Network website. Together, these releases marked a clear step forward in product experience and long-term positioning.

Gasless tBTC Minting and Direct RedemptionsThreshold released an updated tBTC app that enables users to mint tBTC gaslessly and redeem directly back to native BTC. The new interface simplifies the full lifecycle of moving Bitcoin onchain, offering clearer steps, reduced friction for first-time users, and transparent communication around tBTC’s security guarantees and 1:1 backing.

The experience also surfaces real-time data and provides more intuitive guidance on how and where tBTC can be deployed across onchain markets.

Explore the updated app and documentation:
https://app.threshold.network

Strategic Repositioning for Long-Term ScalabilityIn parallel with the app upgrade, Threshold Network introduced a redesigned website that strengthens its identity as the Bitcoin standard for onchain finance and presents a clearer, more forward-looking vision for tBTC.

The rebrand reflects a strategic repositioning focused on long-term scalability and clarity as Bitcoin adoption continues to expand onchain.

Read the full announcement:
https://www.threshold.network/blog/tbtc-simplifying-bitcoin-onchain/

Image from: https://www.threshold.network/blog/tbtc-simplifying-bitcoin-onchain/Improved Transparency with a New Dune DashboardTo further support transparency and ecosystem insight, a new Dune Analytics dashboard for tBTC was released. The dashboard offers improved visibility into minting and redemption activity, supply metrics, and protocol-level flows—supporting users, researchers, and integrators who rely on clear data to understand how BTC moves across onchain markets.

Visit the latest Threshold Dune dashboard:
https://dune.com/threshold/tbtc-performance-dashboard

New Threshold Dune DashboardExpanding Infrastructure and IntegrationsInfrastructure growth remained a core focus throughout 2025. tBTC expanded its vault ecosystem with the launch of four new vaults:

UpshiftEmberYield BasisNoon

tBTC 2025 in Review - Vault IntegrationsIn parallel, tBTC integrated with 20 DeFi protocols, extending Bitcoin liquidity into new onchain financial use cases and strengthening its presence across major platforms.

Strengthening Multi-Chain ReachtBTC reinforced its multi-chain footprint in 2025 with launches on three new chains:

SuiMezoStarknet

tBTC 2025 in Review - Chains Launched These additions further positioned tBTC as a Bitcoin asset designed for use across multiple networks.

Distribution Across ChainsBy total value locked, the top five chains supporting tBTC in 2025 were:

Ethereum – $578MArbitrum – $13MStarknet – $11.8MSolana – $6MBase – $5MBy holder count, the leading chains were:

Ethereum – 9,571 holdersBase – 3,474 holdersOptimism – 2,139 holdersPolygon – 2,056 holdersArbitrum – 1,120 holdersLiquidity ConcentrationLiquidity in 2025 remained concentrated across major venues. The largest tBTC pools by supply were:

Aave – $154MCurve – $99MSparkLend – $12MLooking AheadThe milestones reached in 2025 reflect more than growth in numbers; they signal growing confidence in tBTC as Bitcoin continues to move onchain across multiple networks. Expanded vault infrastructure, broader protocol integrations, and increasing participation across chains all point to a maturing asset built for sustained use.

As tBTC enters the next phase, the focus remains on delivering reliable, scalable, and secure access to Bitcoin across an increasingly multi-chain environment. With infrastructure in place and liquidity established across major venues, tBTC is positioned to support the next wave of onchain Bitcoin activity, where utility, accessibility, and reach continue to expand.

tBTC has always been designed with a clear objective: bring Bitcoin onchain in a way that prioritizes security, transparency, and reliable market behavior. Over time, usage has grown steadily, onchain performance has remained consistent, and tBTC has continued to function as intended across a wide range of market conditions.

This update builds on that foundation.

Fee waivers for $T stakers are now live on Threshold Network, introducing a new way for active participants to reduce execution costs while reinforcing the economic alignment between protocol usage and governance.

This change does not alter how tBTC works. Instead, it refines the economics around how participants interact with the bridge, particularly at scale.

Improving Capital Efficiency Without Workflow ChangestBTC mint and redemption fees (20 bps each) support decentralized bridge operations and can be partially or fully offset by staking $T. Staking unlocks waiver capacity on a rolling 30-day window, every 100,000 T staked offsets 0.001 tBTC in bridge fees, applicable to both minting and redemption.

Note: Per TIP-109, the tBTC mint fee was reinstated at 20 bps on April 15, 2026, matching the redemption fee.‍

Staking WaiversFor participants, this means:

Lower effective execution costs over timeImproved arbitrage efficiency between BTC and tBTCTighter pricing and more reliable liquidityNo changes to custody, settlement, or operational workflowsThe mechanism is opt-in and parameterized, allowing participants to plan around fee exposure with greater precision.

Predictable Parameters, Sustainable tBTC-BTC SpreadtBTC is designed to track Bitcoin as closely as possible. Reducing redemption friction improves arbitrage efficiency, which in turn supports a tighter BTC–tBTC spread and more stable secondary markets.

Early data indicate the mechanism is functioning as intended, reinforcing pricing reliability while maintaining the protocol’s conservative security assumptions.

tBTC - BTC - WBTC Spread | Threshold NetworkThe fee waiver system is intentionally straightforward:

Waiver capacity applies over a rolling 30-day windowEvery 100,000 $T staked offsets up to 0.001 tBTC in eligible feesMinting remains free; redemption fees are offset via waiversUnstaking requires a 30-day periodGovernance participation is unaffectedThis structure favors sustained participation and minimizes short-term distortions. It’s particularly relevant for frequent bridgers, market makers, arbitrageurs, and long-term $T holders, as well as institutions looking for a more capital-efficient way to move Bitcoin onchain. Even users who don’t stake may see benefits through tighter pricing, improved liquidity, and more reliable tBTC markets overall.

Where to stake T TokensStaking $T is optional. Eligible participants may access available fee waivers in accordance with applicable protocol parameters. $T token is available on most decentralized exchanges and major CEX's.

See where you can find $T at https://coingecko.com/en/coins/threshold-network-token

Disclaimer: This blog post is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, legal, or tax advice. Nothing contained herein should be construed as an offer, solicitation, or recommendation to acquire, dispose of, or stake any digital asset.

Access the app to explore staking opportunities

New York, United States, January 22nd, 2026, Chainwire

Threshold Network today announced the launch of fee waivers for $T stakers, a mechanism intended to enhance the Threshold token’s utility and improve onchain performance and capital efficiency for tBTC, its decentralized Bitcoin bridge.

By staking (locking) $T tokens, participants become eligible for reduced or fully waived tBTC bridge fees on eligible mint and redeem activity. The update lowers execution costs for active users, improves arbitrage efficiency between tBTC and BTC, and creates a clearer, more direct link between governance participation and real protocol usage.

Lower Costs, Better Outcomes for Active BTC Users

For participants who regularly bridge Bitcoin, execution costs can compound over time. Minting BTC into tBTC remains free, in line with existing governance decisions. However, redemption carries a fee of up to 20 basis points, reflecting the cost of maintaining secure, decentralized bridge infrastructure. The new fee waivers for $T stakers are designed to reduce this friction by minimizing or fully offsetting redemption costs based on the amount of $T staked.

Staking larger amounts of $T increases waiver capacity, resulting in significant reductions in redemption and other eligible protocol fees.

For participants, this means:

Lower effective execution costs over time Improved arbitrage efficiency between BTC and tBTC Tighter pricing and more reliable liquidity No changes to custody, settlement, or operational workflows For long-term $T holders, staking now extends beyond governance participation or security contribution, becoming a practical tool to improve execution outcomes while reinforcing the infrastructure they rely on.

Supporting Tighter BTC–tBTC Pricing

tBTC is designed to track Bitcoin as closely as possible. Even small sources of friction can matter at scale. The 20-basis-point BTC redemption fee, implemented to support protocol sustainability, introduced a modest drag that could manifest as a proportional discount to BTC in secondary markets

Fee waivers change the economics of that interaction. By reducing redemption costs for active participants, $T staking improves arbitrage efficiency between tBTC and BTC, supporting tighter pricing, more reliable liquidity, and smoother BTC flows across DeFi, benefiting both users and the protocol.

Early data indicate the mechanism is functioning as intended, reinforcing pricing reliability while maintaining the protocol’s conservative security assumptions.

“tBTC is now perfectly pegged. No more 20bps discount attributable to redemption fees” - MacLane Wilkison, Co-Founder of Threshold Network on X

Understanding Key Benefits and Limitations 

When T is staked, it unlocks waiver capacity for tBTC minting and redemption over a rolling 30-day window. For every 100,000 T staked, users can offset 0.001 tBTC in bridge fees. tBTC fees can be completely waived if a user stakes a proportional amount of T.

A few key parameters:

Waiver capacity applies over a rolling 30-day window Every 100,000 $T staked offsets up to 0.001 tBTC in eligible fees Minting remains free; redemption fees are offset via waivers Unstaking requires a 30-day period Governance participation is unaffected Over recent periods, tBTC has demonstrated consistent, steady growth and strong onchain performance relative to other Bitcoin wrappers, supported by transparent design and sustained market usage. The introduction of fee waivers for $T stakers reflects Threshold Network’s continued focus on refining the economic and operational framework for bringing Bitcoin onchain in a manner that supports efficiency, reliability, and market integrity. 

The update is relevant to participants who regularly interact with Bitcoin infrastructure, including frequent bridgers, market makers, arbitrageurs, long-term $T holders, and institutions seeking transparent, capital-efficient access to Bitcoin. Even users who do not stake may benefit indirectly from improved liquidity, tighter pricing, and increased reliability across tBTC markets.

Staking $T is optional. Eligible participants may access available fee waivers in accordance with applicable protocol parameters. $T token is available on most decentralized exchanges and major CEX's

Where users can find $T: https://coingecko.com/en/coins/threshold-network-token

To start taking $T tokens, users can visit https://app.threshold.network/stake

About Threshold Network

Threshold Network powers tBTC, the Bitcoin standard in finance, enabling Bitcoin liquidity to move across chains without compromising settlement finality. Secured by threshold cryptography, tBTC is trust-minimized and censorship-resistant, while maintaining a direct settlement path back to native Bitcoin.

ContactRC Threshold
[email protected]

Disclaimer: Press release sponsored by our commercial partners.

Daily Debrief NewsletterStart every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.

January 2026 marked a strong start to the year for Threshold Network, with continued growth in tBTC adoption, a new vault launch, and deeper engagement with Bitcoin’s onchain role. As market conditions shifted, Threshold remained focused on resilience, trust-minimized design, and sustainable Bitcoin utility.

Throughout the month, Threshold Network advanced its core mission of bringing Bitcoin onchain without compromising its security model or economic integrity. Key research, protocol updates, and ecosystem expansions reinforced tBTC’s position as a reliable, production-ready bridge for Bitcoin liquidity.

HighlightstBTC has surpassed 48,000 BTC in cumulative volume to date and is on track to reach the 50,000 BTC milestone in Q2.Jan 27: Threshold released the tBTC Blueprint Report by Alea Research, detailing tBTC’s 800% growth since 2024 and underscoring its security and resilience relative to other tokenized Bitcoin alternatives.Jan 19: Amid market cycles, tBTC continued steady growth with 5,942 BTC in TVL and 97 percent of supply concentrated on Ethereum, signaling sustained Jan 5: The tBTC Noon Vault went live in partnership with Vesu and Starknet, introducing a structured BTC-denominated onchain positioning strategy.Jan 5: tBTC redemption fee waivers for $T stakers are now available on the Threshold App, reducing execution costs while strengthening protocol and governance alignment.MilestonestBTC Continues Steady Growth Amid Market CyclesOn January 19, tBTC continued to demonstrate resilience and sustained adoption amid broader market cycles. Total value locked reached 5,942 BTC, with 97 percent of supply concentrated on Ethereum, signaling consistent onchain demand and real usage.

These metrics reflect tBTC’s role as a production-ready Bitcoin bridge built without leverage, rehypothecation, or opaque yield mechanics. Its trust-minimized design continues to support predictable behavior across varying market conditions while preserving Bitcoin’s core principles.

tBTC Continues Steady Growth | Threshold Network

tBTC Redemption Fee Waivers for $T Stakers tBTC was designed to bring Bitcoin onchain while prioritizing security, transparency, and reliable market behavior. As adoption has increased, onchain performance has remained consistent across a wide range of market conditions.

The introduction of redemption-fee waivers for $T stakers builds on this foundation by reducing execution costs for active participants and reinforcing alignment between protocol usage and governance. This update refines the economics of interacting with the bridge, particularly at scale, without altering tBTC’s underlying mechanics.

Learn more about fee waivers for $T stakers:

tBTC redemption fee waivers are now live for $T stakers

Ecosystem GrowthNoon tBTC Yield Vault Goes Live and Gains Early TractionOn January 10, the Noon-tBTC Yield Vault launched on Threshold Network in partnership with Vesu, Starknet’s largest lending platform. Built around disciplined Bitcoin yield strategies, the vault initially targeted a 10 percent APY. Within two days, it reached $454,060 in TVL with a 7-day APY of 6.79 percent, signaling early interest in structured Bitcoin yield products.

Explore the vault: https://app.threshold.network/vaults/starknet-noon

tBTC Noon Vault Goes Live | Threshold NetworktBTC Blueprint Report by Alea ResearchBitcoin onchain is entering a phase where security, custodianship, and protocol design matter more than ever, and Threshold Network continues to advance this standard through tBTC.

The tBTC Blueprint Report by Alea Research focuses on tBTC and Threshold Network as a reference model for trust-minimized Bitcoin infrastructure. It analyzes how Threshold’s architecture, incentive design, and custody assumptions support scalable Bitcoin liquidity while maintaining predictable market behavior and strong security guarantees.

Read more: https://threshold.network/blog/the-threshold-network-blueprint-by-alea-research/ 

tBTC Blueprint Snapshot via Alea Research | Threshold NetworkMedia HighlightsThreshold featured in Decrypt on stake-based fee waiversOn January 23, Decrypt Media featured Threshold’s introduction of stake-based redemption fee waivers, highlighting how the update reduces execution friction and supports tighter pricing across Bitcoin markets.

Read the Decrypt feature to learn more: https://decrypt.co/355453/threshold-network-introduces-stake-based-fee-waivers-to-strengthen-tbtc 

Bitcoin allocation strategies on The Daily StackOn January 30, Callan Sarre joined Bitcoin News’s The Daily Stack podcast to discuss how Bitcoin can be allocated across different risk profiles, including emerging opportunities powered by tBTC. The conversation explored how using Bitcoin as collateral can contribute to economic security to blockchain networks with relatively low financial risk.

Watch a snippet of the podcast episode: https://x.com/TheTNetwork/status/2017227776865267906

Threshold Labs CPO and Co-Founder Callan Sarre at Bitcoin News | ThresholdBitcoin resilience under stressOn January 27, Callan Sarre, Co-Founder and CPO at Threshold Labs, shared insights with Decrypt Media on how miners respond to grid stress while Bitcoin’s consensus layer continues to operate as designed.

Read more: https://decrypt.co/355836/us-bitcoin-miners-slow-as-winter-storm-hits-power-grids

Team Update

New Threshold Labs Member | Threshold NetworkRecently, we welcomed Vicky to Threshold Labs as a Software Engineer. Vicky brings 14 years of software engineering experience and has been active in crypto since 2017.

Vicky previously worked on NuCypher starting in 2016 and was directly involved in creating the Threshold Network smart contracts, giving her deep historical and technical context across the Threshold stack. Her experience strengthens the team’s ability to maintain and evolve core protocol infrastructure.

Looking AheadAs 2026 unfolds, Threshold Network remains focused on strengthening Bitcoin’s role onchain through trust-minimized infrastructure and aligned economic incentives. Upcoming work will continue to prioritize protocol resilience, measured ecosystem expansion, and deeper integration across Bitcoin-native and emerging environments.

In the months ahead, Threshold will advance research, product development, and partnerships that support sustainable Bitcoin liquidity and long-term network security. The goal remains clear: make Bitcoin more usable without compromising the principles that underpin its value.

Follow Threshold Network for upcoming updates and releases.

[PRESSS RELEASE – New York, United States, March 3rd, 2026]

Threshold Network, the decentralized blockchain protocol behind tBTC, has introduced an update to its decentralized application featuring an all-in-one Unified Bitcoin App that enables users to route Bitcoin across major chains through a single interface.

This new unified routing interface brings minting, redeeming, bridging, tracking, and native BTC swaps into a single application: The Threshold App. Users can now move Bitcoin across ecosystems through a coordinated system, rather than stitching together multiple tools or navigating between different Decentralized protocols.

This release simplifies how Bitcoin enters and moves across DeFi, offering a more user-friendly on-chain experience with tBTC. Whether a transaction requires a swap, a bridge, or multiple steps, execution is seamlessly coordinated through a single interface

Coordinated Execution Instead of Fragmented Workflows

Historically, moving BTC into tBTC and across chains required multiple disconnected workflows: minting in one app, bridging via another protocol, swapping on separate exchanges, and manually checking the best price for each transaction. This fragmented process introduced friction, higher execution risk, added costs, and unnecessary complexity for users attempting to access DeFi with Bitcoin.

The Threshold All-in-one Bitcoin Liquidity App streamlines this experience by consolidating minting, bridging, swapping, and cost tracking into a single coordinated interface. Instead of manually comparing bridges and liquidity venues, users receive optimized routing options based on cost, speed, and reliability, such as the fastest or lowest-cost path: all within the Threshold Network App.

By abstracting multi-step transactions into a single seamless flow, the router significantly lowers the barrier for Bitcoin holders to use BTC across major ecosystems, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Sui, Starknet, and other integrated chains. The result is a simpler, more efficient way to move Bitcoin into DeFi.

Native BTC Execution with Deep Liquidity

Native BTC swaps are integrated directly into the routing engine, leveraging deep Ethereum liquidity to deliver competitive pricing and more efficient execution compared to fragmented, chain-specific pools.

“Capital should move efficiently across chains without requiring users to manage infrastructure decisions,” said MacLane Wilkison, Co-Founder of Threshold Network. “The new Threshold Bitcoin app coordinates liquidity sourcing and settlement behind the interface, enabling more efficient Bitcoin deployment across ecosystems.”

The update also strengthens the utility of Threshold’s token (T). The App tracks staked $T from the connected wallet and automatically applies minting and redemption fee waivers for eligible users. Gasless minting remains available as an opt-in feature, further reducing transaction costs.

Additionally, the router enables streamlined conversions from assets such as WBTC and cbBTC directly into tBTC on the destination chain, providing more direct and efficient access to Bitcoin liquidity across DeFi ecosystems.

Integrated Infrastructure Across Major Networks. Currently, the router connects Bitcoin, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Sui, and Starknet within one coordinated framework. It integrates native tBTC mint and redeem flows, established bridging infrastructure, and DEX aggregation to ensure reliable settlement across chains.

All transactions are tracked in real time and are fully resumable. If a user disconnects or closes a session, progress is preserved. Fee logic is staking-aware, with eligible T stakers seeing applicable redemption fees waived directly within the interface.

New Features:

Unified Routing Interface: Enables minting, redeeming, swapping, and bridging from a single entry point. Users select source and destination assets, and the system automatically constructs the optimal execution path. Multi-Chain Connectivity: Supports Bitcoin, Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Sui, and StarkNet within a single coordinated framework. Users can move BTC or tBTC across ecosystems without managing separate bridge interfaces. Smart Route Discovery and Ranking: Automatically evaluates possible transaction paths and ranks them by cost, speed, reliability, and simplicity. Users are presented with clearly labeled best options. Native BTC Swaps: Provides direct access to BTC liquidity with competitive execution, while enabling seamless conversion of assets such as cbBTC or wBTC into tBTC on a user’s chosen destination network. Integrated Liquidity and Bridging Stack: Connects tBTC mint and redeem flows with established bridging infrastructure and DEX aggregation to coordinate multi-step transactions seamlessly. Resumable Transactions: Persists in-flight operations, allowing users to refresh, disconnect, or return later without losing progress. Reduces failed cross-chain flows and operational friction $T Staking-Aware Fee Display: Recognizes T staking status and surfaces fee waivers directly in the interface, reinforcing participation incentives. Unified tBTC Explorer and Transaction Tracking: The new explorer section of the app consolidates historical mint, redeem, bridge, and swap activity into a single view, improving transparency and user oversight. Impact for Users and Stakeholders

This release expands the utility of tBTC across six ecosystems while increasing throughput across minting, bridging, and swap flows. By embedding routing intelligence directly into the protocol interface, Threshold captures more activity within its infrastructure and further strengthens staking incentives tied to network usage.

With this launch, Threshold advances its role from Bitcoin asset issuance to core infrastructure for Bitcoin mobility, coordinating capital movement seamlessly across chains and unlocking more efficient access to decentralized finance.

Users can explore the new Bitcoin App today at https://app.threshold.network

About Threshold Network

Threshold Network is the decentralized protocol behind tBTC, a non-custodial, 1:1 Bitcoin-backed asset secured by a 51-of-100 threshold signer model. tBTC enables native BTC to move across chains like Ethereum, Base, Sui, Arbitrum, and Starknet without requiring custodians or compromising security. With over 6 years of proven security and about $5.1B in bridge volume, Threshold offers the most battle-tested, trust-minimized Bitcoin infrastructure on-chain.

May’s DeFi Hack Tally Grows as Verus Bridge Reportedly Loses $11.58 Million

PANews reported on May 18 that Verus disclosed on its official Discord that the Verus-Ethereum cross-chain bridge was attacked at 23:55 UTC on May 17, 2026. The attackers transferred Ethereum, USDC, and tBTC assets from the Ethereum contract. The Verus network subsequently suspended operations, and most block-generating nodes have proactively gone offline to prevent further spread of the attack.

The project team stated that they are investigating the attack path and the extent of the damage, and that if the attackers return all funds, a bug bounty will be awarded and no further legal action will be taken. They also warned that anyone offering a "compensation plan" via private message is a scammer and should not interact with them.

PANews reported on May 20th that Threshold Network posted on its X platform that at 18:04 Beijing time on May 18th, an attacker attempted to mint tBTC without depositing the underlying BTC, but failed. No invalid tBTC was generated, and user funds were not at risk. Out of caution, given the increased frequency of malicious activity across the crypto ecosystem, Optimistic Minting has been temporarily suspended. Minting is now conducted via a sweeping mechanism, extending the minting time from approximately 1.5 hours to approximately 6-7 hours.

According to reports, tBTC's basic security model involves a decentralized network of signers holding the underlying Bitcoin and verifying each native minting through verifiable Bitcoin SPV proofs. Optimistic Minting employs a different trust model, with deposits confirmed by Minter and Guardian proofs instead of SPV proofs, and a minting time of approximately 1.5 hours.

Table of contents

MAP Protocol, a blockchain interoperability leader, joined the NVIDIA Developer Program. This marks a milestone for AI-powered Bitcoin interoperability. MAP Protocol’s partnership with NVIDIA allows for more blockchain collaboration research. MAP Protocol uses NVIDIA’s cutting-edge AI technology to make the Bitcoin Layer 2 (L2) ecosystem and other blockchain systems work better together. AI is becoming increasingly important for blockchain innovation, as shown by this partnership.

🚀We are proud to announce that MAP Protocol has officially joined the @nvidia Developer Program to accelerate AI-powered Bitcoin interoperability technologies.

As a key gateway for the Bitcoin ecosystem, we leverage NVIDIA's AI tech for advanced interoperability research and… pic.twitter.com/dV4N9nG6gG

— MAP Protocol (@MapProtocol) March 14, 2024 NEAR Protocol Embraces AI to Drive Future Blockchain Innovation As a gateway for the Bitcoin ecosystem, MAP Protocol helps blockchain networks communicate and collaborate. MAP Protocol hopes to improve interoperability and the blockchain ecosystem by using NVIDIA’s AI technology.

MAP Protocol has partnered with NEAR Protocol, a leading AI-focused blockchain platform, and NVIDIA. This partnership has funded MAP Protocol and enabled AI-powered interoperability solutions in the NEAR and Bitcoin L2 ecosystems. This new development advances cross-chain communication and data exchange between two popular blockchain networks.

The fact that NEAR Protocol has switched to AI shows how crucial AI is to blockchain technology’s future. NEAR Protocol wants to add AI to its ecosystem to scale, optimize, and improve its blockchain platform. This opens up new growth and innovation opportunities.

The NEAR Protocol team launched the NEAR Mission at NEARCON 2023. This project uses community participation to improve AI models. Participants in the NEAR Mission receive NEAR tokens for annotating data to improve AI models. This community-driven approach increases participation and accelerates NEAR ecosystem AI-powered solution development.

MAP, NEAR, and NVIDIA Forge Alliance for Blockchain Innovation MAP Protocol received official funding to help the AI-powered NEAR Protocol blockchain work with other blockchain networks. This grant shows that MAP Protocol and NEAR Protocol promote new ideas and blockchain ecosystem collaboration.

Joining the NVIDIA Developer Program lets MAP Protocol use shared tools, platforms, and frameworks to develop cross-chain interoperability solutions faster. Through this partnership, MAP Protocol can use NVIDIA’s AI expertise to improve its compatibility with other protocols and encourage blockchain innovation.

Ultimately, the MAP Protocol, NEAR Protocol, and NVIDIA partnership advances blockchain interoperability and AI integration. MAP Protocol hopes this partnership will accelerate AI-powered interoperability solutions and create a more connected and effective blockchain ecosystem. MAP Protocol is poised to lead blockchain innovation and progress with NVIDIA’s AI technology and NEAR Protocol’s strategic partnership.

AUTHOR

Umair Younas is a cryptocurrency-related content writer linked with this work since 2019. Here, at Blockchainreporter, he serves as a news and article writer. He is a crypto, blockchain, NFTs, DeFi, and FinTech enthusiast. He has strong command over writing authentic reviews about brokers and exchanges and he has collaborated with our education team to write educational content as well. He has a dream to raise awareness among people about digital currencies. His works are well-researched and brimmed with information hence they provide fresh insights. Stay tuned to his posts if you want to stay up-to-date with the crypto-verse.

Reason to trust

Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality

Created by industry experts and meticulously reviewed

The highest standards in reporting and publishing

Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality

Morbi pretium leo et nisl aliquam mollis. Quisque arcu lorem, ultricies quis pellentesque nec, ullamcorper eu odio.

As the community prepares for the much-anticipated fourth halving set for April 19, 2024, the buzz around Bitcoin-based projects is reaching a fever pitch. Crypto influencer Leshka.eth, with a following of over 128,500 on X (formerly Twitter), has identified a set of altcoins under the Bitcoin financial ecosystem (BTCfi) that could see significant gains post-halving.

Crypto Analyst Shares His Top-10 BTCfi Altcoins Leshka.eth told his 128,500 followers on X (formerly Twitter) about the potential of various projects in the BTCfi landscape. He remarked, “The countdown to BTC halving ends in 2 days. If you missed 1,000x on BRC20 and Ordinals, if you missed 800x on STAMP, check out my watchlist of BTCfi altcoins poised to surge because of the halving.”

Here’s a breakdown of the top altcoins Leshka.eth believes could benefit from the upcoming Bitcoin halving:

1. Hulvin (HULVIN): This project is touted as the first halving-themed memecoin with the slogan “Make Halving Great Again.” Initially mentioned by Leshka.eth when it was valued at a $9 million market cap, Hulvin has seen an impressive ascent, crossing a $30 million market cap.

“I first mentioned it when it was at $9M market cap. Today it surpassed $30M MC and outperforming all other tokens on the market. Still much space for a price discovery,” Leshka.eth highlighted. The coin currently trades at $0.01298 with a daily volume of $5.8 million.

2. Map Protocol (MAP): Designed to simplify cross-blockchain transactions using light clients and zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs, MAP Protocol operates without relying on trusted third parties. It facilitates secure peer-to-peer connections and emphasizes compatibility across different blockchains. Currently, MAP is trading at $0.0248 with a $107 million market cap and a 24-hour trading volume of $3.2 million. Leshka.eth views it as a crucial infrastructure component for the evolving blockchain ecosystem.

3. Stacks (STX): As a layer built on top of the Bitcoin blockchain, Stacks introduces functionalities such as smart contracts, decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and decentralized applications (dApps). It is often compared to the Lightning Network due to its extension of Bitcoin’s capabilities.

With a substantial market cap of $4.04 billion and a price of $2.29, Stacks represents a significant part of the BTCfi landscape. “Stacks transforms Bitcoin from a digital gold into a more expansive ecosystem capable of supporting a wide array of applications,” Leshka.eth noted.

4. Mintlayer (ML): This layer 2 solution enhances Bitcoin’s functionality by enabling DeFi, smart contracts, atomic swaps, NFTs, and dApps directly on the Bitcoin network. Trading at $0.38 with a market cap of $24 million and a daily volume of $2.5 million, Mintlayer stands out for its integrative approach to extending Bitcoin’s utility without the need for an entirely separate blockchain.

5. SatoshiSync (SSNC): Collaborating with LayerZero and Chainlink, SatoshiSync offers a toolkit for easing transactions on Bitcoin’s L1 and L2 layers. Even before its token launch, the platform had attracted over 50,000 users, underscoring its practical value. SSNC is priced at $0.1275, with a market cap of $124.7 million and modest daily transactions amounting to $0.45 million.

6. Bitcoin Virtual Machine (BVM): BVM is a rapidly growing Layer 2 solution for Bitcoin that allows users to create their own L2 networks, thereby enhancing the value of BVM tokens. The BVM team is also planning to introduce airdrops for BVM stakers, which Leshka.eth believes could “drive up demand for the tokens significantly.” BVM is currently trading at $5.35, with a market cap of $133.6 million and a 24-hour volume of $2.74 million.

7. Naka Chain (NAKA): Positioned as a cost-effective, high-speed Bitcoin L2 blockchain tailored for DeFi applications that utilize Bitcoin for gas fees, Naka Chain enables developers to port decentralized apps from Ethereum to Bitcoin with minimal changes. It functions similarly to the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), enhancing its appeal. NAKA is trading at $0.026, with a market cap of $56.32 million and a daily volume of $128,000.

8. Elastos (ELA): Elastos aims to construct a blockchain-driven version of the internet, addressing scalability and flexibility issues found in Ethereum and other DApp platforms. With a market cap of $81 million and trading at $3.69, ELA focuses on building a robust infrastructure for a decentralized internet.

9. MVC (SPACE): This public blockchain integrates multiple technologies, including the UTXO model and Proof of Work (PoW), to deliver exceptional performance, minimal fees, and high decentralization. SPACE trades at $17.59 with a market cap of $52.3 million and a 24-hour volume of $1.31 million.

10. Photon: Touted as a superior traditional Layer 2 solution, Photon leverages the security of Bitcoin’s Layer 1 to support scalable decentralized applications, providing efficiency and flexibility comparable to Ethereum’s ecosystem. This project is one to watch, with its upcoming launch expected to attract significant attention. “Keep an eye out for its upcoming launch!,” Leshka.eth stated.

11. Additional Mention – BounceBit: BounceBit is a Bitcoin staking chain that allows users to earn yields on their dormant Bitcoin. With a focus on early access, the platform encourages active participation and utilization of Bitcoin for staking purposes. The imminent launch of BounceBit is highly anticipated by the community.

At press time, Stacks (STX) was trading at $2.29, down 40% from its all-time high reached on April 1.

STX price, 1-day chart | Source: STXUSD on TradingView.com Featured image created with DALL·E, chart from TradingView.com

MAP Protocol (MAPO) was the best-performing cryptocurrency on Saturday as it jumped by 100%. It rose to a high of $0.010, its highest point since Feb. 2, and 153% above its lowest point this year.

This increase has pushed its market cap to over $53 million. 

MAP Protocol price led the charge MAP chart | Source: TradingView MAP Protocol is a layer-2 network for Bitcoin, allowing peer-to-peer cross-chain transactions. Its token surged as the total value locked in the network jumped. 

Its TVL jumped to $23.3 million on Saturday, the highest point since February. All dApps in the ecosystem, like HiveSwap, StaQ, and Butter Network, have all added substantial assets in their ecosystems.

The biggest risk for MAPS Protocol price is that it has become highly overbought, with the Relative Strength Index jumping to 93. This means that the token may have a big dive as investors book profits. 

Useless Coin price hits all-time high USELESS token chart | Source: TradingView The Useless Coin price surged to a record high of $0.078 on Friday, even as the crypto market crashed. The Solana meme coin has jumped by over 1,245% from its lowest point this year, giving it a market cap of over $70 million.

Useless Coin, unlike MAPS Protocol, has no utility, and its price is soaring mainly because of hype and FOMO among crypto investors. 

Technicals suggest that the USELESS token has more gains ahead. It formed a cup-and-handle pattern whose upper side was at $0.047 and the lower side was at $0.0051 or a 90% dip. Measuring the same distance from the cup’s upper side gives it a target of $0.090, a few points above the current level.

LUNC price rises as burn rate jumps LUNC chart | Source: crypto.news Terra Luna Classic (LUNC) token rose by over 10% on Saturday. This jump happened after the LUNC token burn rose by over 234 million in the last seven days, bringing the cumulative burn to 410 billion. 

Technicals suggest that the LUNC price has more gains in the coming weeks. It has remained in a tight range and formed a double-bottom pattern with a neckline at $0.00007253. 

LUNC has also moved in the accumulation phase of the Wyckoff Theory, pointing to an eventual comeback. A move above the neckline at $0.00007253 will point to more gains to the 50% retracement level at $0.0001135.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin rallied past $105,000 at last check on Saturday. See below.

Souce: CoinGecko

PANews reported on May 21 that, according to Blockaid, the Map Protocol/Butter Network cross-chain bridge was attacked on Ethereum and BSC. The attacker tricked the Butter Bridge V3.1 contract into directly minting approximately 1000 trillion MAPO tokens to a newly created EOA address, roughly 4.8 million times the legitimate supply of 208 million tokens. Furthermore, according to the DeFi community YAM, the attacker has currently profited approximately 52.2 ETH (about $110,000).

In response, MAP Protocol stated that the team is aware of the matter and is coordinating with external security partners to investigate and contain it. The bridge between MAPO ERC-20 and the MAPO mainnet has been suspended. Do not trade MAPO ERC-20 tokens on Uniswap at this time. Liquidity pools remain at risk while mitigation measures are in place.

Butter Network responded that ButterSwap has been suspended, and the team is coordinating an investigation with external security partners. Pending transactions will be processed once security is restored. User funds are not at risk, and all affected transactions will be processed in full upon restoration.

TLDR Table of Contents

TLDRFederal Authorization Opens Door to Isotope Production BusinessBuilding Domestic Isotope Infrastructure AdvancesFederal Partnership Propels Aurora Reactor InitiativeGet 3 Free Stock Ebooks First NRC materials license approval enables Oklo’s entry into isotope processing sector. Stock advances 2.35% as regulatory milestone validates commercial expansion strategy. Atomic Alchemy subsidiary authorized to handle and distribute critical isotopes. DOE safety design approval propels Aurora reactor initiative forward. Multi-reactor isotope facility planned for healthcare and technology applications. Shares of Oklo Inc. (OKLO) climbed 2.35% to reach $61.09, rebounding from earlier session fluctuations as the company announced significant regulatory achievements. The nuclear technology firm obtained crucial federal authorization and solidified reactor development partnerships. These milestones mark critical progress in Oklo’s evolution from development stage to active market participant in nuclear energy and isotope production.

Oklo Inc., OKLO

Federal Authorization Opens Door to Isotope Production Business The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted Oklo its inaugural materials license via the company’s Atomic Alchemy division. This authorization permits the subsidiary to manage, process, and supply essential radioactive isotopes. The approval represents Oklo’s formal entry into commercial isotope operations.

Under the license terms, Atomic Alchemy can work with controlled amounts of radium-226 and sealed calibration materials. The authorization encompasses chemical processing, secure storage, and repackaging activities within regulatory parameters. Consequently, Oklo now possesses the legal framework to initiate isotope recovery and preparation procedures.

Operations will initially center at the Idaho Radiochemistry Laboratory facility. The site will handle distribution to federally authorized customers according to compliance standards. This regulatory approval creates a foundation for developing domestic isotope production capabilities.

Building Domestic Isotope Infrastructure Advances Oklo intends to transform unused radioactive materials into viable feedstock for medical isotope manufacturing. This methodology addresses critical shortages affecting healthcare institutions and research organizations. The approach also diminishes dependence on international isotope suppliers.

Reclaimed materials will enable applications including targeted alpha therapy treatments and industrial diagnostic procedures. Moreover, the recycling process improves resource utilization by repurposing materials previously designated as waste products. This operational model supports wider nuclear industry sustainability objectives.

Knowledge gained from Idaho laboratory operations will guide upcoming large-scale production facilities. The organization envisions constructing a multi-reactor isotope foundry featuring multiple compact reactors. These integrated systems will serve varied applications spanning medical treatments, defense requirements, and aerospace technologies.

Federal Partnership Propels Aurora Reactor Initiative Oklo formalized an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy supporting its inaugural reactor installation. The arrangement addresses design specifications, construction protocols, and operational parameters within a federal demonstration program. This collaborative structure expedites deployment schedules for next-generation nuclear systems.

The Department of Energy granted Nuclear Safety Design Agreement approval for the Aurora reactor at Idaho National Laboratory. This clearance launches the subsequent phase of technical evaluation and project implementation. The approval also facilitates comprehensive safety assessment under federal supervision.

Oklo maintains concurrent development of its fuel manufacturing facility in Idaho. The plant will produce initial fuel assemblies for Aurora reactor operations. Collectively, these initiatives bolster domestic nuclear infrastructure and facilitate eventual commercial licensing objectives.

Database maintenance is an important challenge for us given the high uptime expectations of always-on asset trading. Paxos powers regulated infrastructure that institutions and consumers rely on to move, convert, and hold assets 24/7 — so even planned downtime has real consequences for the people and businesses that trust us. Blue-Green upgrades have fundamentally changed how we approach it at Paxos. The complexity was real, especially around Temporary Roles and CDC, but the 50X downtime reduction and month of saved coordination made it worth it. 

Customers were challenging us to think big about uptime: Does the downtime have to be every year? Can you achieve four nines all the time? Could you do a hot-cold failover to reduce impact?

The honest answer to all three questions was "not with our current approach." We were running 60+ Postgres clusters with traditional upgrade processes—30 to 120 minutes of downtime each. 

Aurora Blue-Green upgrades promised to fix this. What I didn't anticipate from reading the docs is that CREATE ROLE statements involved in our Vault-based temporary roles for human logins would break every single upgrade attempt.

But, after dealing with DDL issues, working through how to not lose much data when replication slots drop, and grinding through a lot of databases, we now have a reusable pattern that keeps us up and meets our customer expectations.

How Blue-Green WorksInstead of the traditional dump/reload or pg_upgrade process that takes your database offline, Blue-Green leverages PostgreSQL's logical replication to create a parallel environment. Your blue cluster keeps serving production traffic while a green cluster is created with the new version. Logical replication keeps them synchronized in real time. When replication catches up, the switchover happens in about a minute—writes pause briefly, everything syncs, and traffic moves to green.

For the full technical details, see AWS's Blue-Green documentation.

ChallengesBlue-Green upgrades are transformational, but they're not without friction. Here's what we ran into.

The Ephemeral Roles TrapThe first staging environment upgrade failed with an error saying DDL couldn't be replicated. I knew schema changes were off-limits during a Blue-Green upgrade—that's documented. But when I pulled down the actual Postgres logs from the AWS console, I found the culprit: a CREATE ROLE statement for a human trying to access the database.

We use Vault for temporary database credentials. Every time someone logs in to troubleshoot or run a query, Vault creates a short-lived role. That CREATE ROLE is DDL. And it breaks the upgrade.

I immediately realized this was going to be painful. We had to disable Vault-based role management entirely during upgrade windows and be much more careful about who accessed what. Even with those precautions, we hit retries on multiple clusters.

If you're using Vault or any dynamic role management system, deal with this before you start your upgrade project.

Replication Slots Must Drop (Pre-PG17)This was the most significant challenge. Before PostgreSQL 17, replication slots must be dropped during a Blue-Green upgrade. If you're using Change Data Capture—and we rely heavily on it—this means data loss from the CDC perspective.

We use Debezium-based CDC for two critical purposes: replicating data to our warehouse, and powering event-driven workflows where database writes trigger downstream processing for API responses. When replication slots drop, we lose events during the gap. Recovering requires per-table, per-use-case backfill strategies that can take 3-30 hours per cluster to design and implement.

InstantDB wrote about hitting similar replication slot issues during their Postgres upgrade—they ultimately chose a different approach because of it. We decided to push through with Blue-Green and absorb the backfill cost, but it's the sharpest edge of this feature.

IAM Cluster IDs ChangeWhen the green cluster becomes primary, it gets a new cluster ID. If you're using RDS IAM authentication, every client needs to be updated. This added 1-2 hours of work per cluster—not difficult, but it adds up across 60+ clusters.

The ResultsDowntime dropped from 30-120 minutes per cluster to about one minute (roughly 50X improvement).

More importantly, this changed what's operationally possible. With traditional upgrades, we'd struggle to maintain 99.9% monthly uptime during maintenance periods. With Blue-Green, we can do upgrades without breaching 99.99% uptime SLOs on most products.

The customer coordination impact was equally significant. Hour-long downtimes meant weeks of coordination—meetings to review contingency plans, requests to reschedule, extensive documentation. Sub-five-minute downtimes reduced this to FYI notifications. Across 60+ clusters, that saved us at least a month of coordination work.

What's Coming: PostgreSQL 17PostgreSQL 17 addresses our biggest pain point. Starting with upgrades from PostgreSQL 17, users don't have to drop logical replication slots. This means future upgrades (17 to 18, etc.) can preserve CDC continuity.

To be clear: our upgrades to PG17 still required dropping slots. But once you're on version 17, the path forward is much cleaner. This is a compelling reason to prioritize getting to PostgreSQL 17 if you rely on replication-slot-based CDC.

What I'd Tell Someone Starting ThisTwo things I wish I'd known:

Deal with Vault Auth first. Or at minimum, have a clean way to disable dynamic role creation during upgrade windows. The DDL sensitivity is documented, but the implication for Vault-based auth isn't obvious until it breaks your first upgrade.

Push AWS on replication slot support from readers. Being able to maintain CDC from a reader during the upgrade window would eliminate the backfill problem entirely. If enough customers ask for this, it might happen.

Infrastructure reliability isn't glamorous, but it's foundational to the trust that makes regulated digital assets work. If you're working through similar challenges with Postgres upgrades at scale, I'd be interested to hear what you've learned. You can reach me on LinkedIn.

TLDR Oklo reported a Q1 net loss of $33.1 million ($0.19 per share), significantly higher than last year’s $9.8 million loss, generating no revenue. The company received Nuclear Regulatory Commission approval for Aurora powerhouse Principal Design Criteria last week. CEO Jacob DeWitte reaffirmed plans to launch commercial operations no later than 2028. The company held $1.59 billion in cash plus $614.5 million in marketable debt securities at quarter-end, accounting for roughly 82% of total assets. Following Q1 earnings, H.C. Wainwright maintained its Buy rating with a $90 price target. Oklo stock edged 0.6% higher during Wednesday’s premarket session following the nuclear technology firm’s first-quarter earnings release and announcement of a significant regulatory breakthrough — despite mounting losses.

Oklo Inc., OKLO

The nuclear startup disclosed a Q1 net loss of $33.1 million, equivalent to $0.19 per share. This represents a substantial increase compared to the year-ago loss of $9.8 million, or $0.07 per share. Wall Street analysts had projected a $0.20 per share loss, meaning the company narrowly beat consensus estimates.

Oklo remains revenue-free. As a pre-commercial company, it doesn’t yet generate income, making conventional valuation methods challenging to apply.

Capital expenditures totaled $32.8 million during the quarter on infrastructure and equipment investments — exceeding the $29.8 million analyst consensus. Operating expenses reached $51.5 million, reflecting a roughly 10% decline from the prior quarter’s $57.1 million.

The company closed the first quarter holding $1.59 billion in cash alongside $614.5 million in marketable debt securities. Combined, these liquid assets comprise approximately 82% of Oklo’s total asset base.

Shares had declined 5.8% in the prior session before Wednesday’s premarket recovery.

NRC Greenlights Critical Aurora Design Framework The major regulatory development: the Nuclear Regulatory Commission granted approval for the Principal Design Criteria governing Oklo’s Aurora powerhouse facility at Idaho National Laboratory last week.

This approval establishes the fundamental safety and operational standards for the facility. While representing significant progress in the licensing journey, full commercial authorization remains outstanding.

CEO Jacob DeWitte has repeatedly stated in interviews with Barron’s that the company expects to commence commercial operations by 2028 at the latest.

Alternative Revenue Streams Begin Emerging As Aurora progresses through regulatory channels, Oklo is developing additional revenue generation avenues.

The company’s Atomic Alchemy subsidiary obtained licensing approval earlier this year to commence sales from its Idaho-based radiochemistry facility. During Tuesday’s announcement, Oklo revealed its first isotope customer was “pending.”

The nuclear startup has also bolstered its credibility through strategic collaborations. In recent weeks, Oklo partnered with Nvidia’s AI infrastructure division to enhance nuclear fuel modeling and simulation capabilities alongside Los Alamos National Laboratory.

Meta Platforms counts among Oklo’s current customer roster, lending additional legitimacy and investor appeal to the company.

Following its May 2024 public debut, Oklo has traded primarily on future potential. The stock skyrocketed 238% throughout 2025 while the S&P 500 advanced 16%. Performance has moderated in 2026 — shares are up just 2.6% year-to-date compared to the S&P 500’s 8.1% climb.

Despite producing zero revenue, the company commands a $12.81 billion market capitalization — a valuation multiple some analysts have characterized as potentially excessive.

H.C. Wainwright reaffirmed its Buy rating and maintained its $90 price target on Oklo shares following the first-quarter report.

Aurora Gaming opened its IEM Cologne Major 2026 run with a commanding 2-0 victory over Monte on June 11, taking Nuke 13-10 before closing things out on Anubis. The result was expected. The context surrounding it, however, is what makes it interesting for anyone watching the intersection of esports and crypto.

One day before the match, Aurora announced a sponsorship partnership with Polymarket covering its CS2 and Dota 2 rosters. That makes the timing of this first Major win feel like a proof-of-concept demo for both sides of the deal.

The match and the market Aurora sits at No. 6 globally on HLTV’s rankings, while Monte occupies the No. 22 spot. The scoreline reflected that gap without much drama.

Advertisement

Prediction markets had Aurora priced as an 83% favorite heading into the match. Roughly $193K in trading volume was recorded on the specific match outcome on Polymarket, a substantial figure for a single opening-round game in the Swiss stage.

For context, the entire IEM Cologne Major 2026 carries a prize pool estimated between $1.17 million and $1.25 million. That means prediction market volume on a single group-stage match approached nearly a fifth of the tournament’s total prize money.

The Swiss format means Aurora’s 2-0 start puts them in a strong position for advancement. Monte, meanwhile, now faces an uphill path through the lower bracket rounds. The tournament runs through June 21.

Why Polymarket cares about esports The Aurora-Polymarket sponsorship is specifically designed to expand Polymarket’s user base by tapping into Aurora’s competitive presence across CS2 and Dota 2.

The $193K in volume on a single match suggests the platform is already finding traction with this audience.

The bigger picture for crypto and competitive gaming The IEM Cologne Major 2026 is the first CS2 Major of the year, which makes it the de facto flagship event for the competitive Counter-Strike calendar. For Polymarket, having a sponsored team competing at this level of visibility is about as good as advertising gets in the esports world.

The strategic logic works in both directions. Aurora gets financial backing from a well-funded crypto platform. Polymarket gets access to Aurora’s competitive audience across CS2 and Dota 2.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

Aurora Gaming walked into the IEM Cologne Major 2026 Swiss stage on June 12 with a brand-new logo on their jerseys. Polymarket, the crypto prediction market platform, had signed on as the team’s primary sponsor just 48 hours earlier.

Polymarket enters the esports arena The sponsorship deal, finalized on June 10, 2026, positions Polymarket alongside Aurora’s existing partner 1xBet. That means the Serbian esports organization now counts two betting-adjacent brands as its headline sponsors.

Aurora Gaming was founded in 2022, but the current CS2 roster looks very different from its early days. After roster changes in 2025, the team transitioned to a Turkish-heavy lineup featuring MAJ3R, XANTARES, and woxic, with Fabre serving as coach. The squad competes across multiple titles including CS2 and Dota 2.

Advertisement

The IEM Cologne matchup The match against Team Spirit carried extra weight for Aurora beyond the sponsorship debut. The two teams met at IEM Cologne 2025, where Spirit dismantled Aurora in a clean 0-2 sweep. Dust2 and Nuke were the pivotal maps in that earlier encounter, and both showed up again in the 2026 map pool alongside Anubis.

Team Spirit’s roster is anchored by donk and sh1ro. Spirit does not appear to carry any cryptocurrency-related sponsorships, which creates an interesting visual contrast: one team wearing a prediction market logo, the other running on more traditional partnerships.

The map selections — Dust2, Anubis, and Nuke — revisit familiar territory. Dust2 and Nuke had already been decisive in their 2025 meeting. Anubis added a wildcard element as a map that has become a proving ground for tactical creativity in the current CS2 meta.

What this means for crypto and esports sponsorships Traditional sportsbooks offer fixed odds set by bookmakers. Prediction markets let users trade on outcomes with prices set by the crowd. By sponsoring a Major-level CS2 team, Polymarket gets direct access to an audience already comfortable with concepts like expected value, probability assessment, and risk management.

The dual sponsorship structure with 1xBet is also worth noting. Having both a traditional betting platform and a prediction market as co-sponsors could signal that Aurora sees these as complementary rather than competing revenue streams.

The risk is regulatory. Prediction markets exist in a grey area in many jurisdictions, and esports betting regulations vary across the markets where Major tournaments draw their audiences.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

Ismailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş, one of the most mechanically gifted players in competitive Counter-Strike, has been spotted warming up on the IEM Cologne Major stage. The Turkish star, competing under the Aurora Gaming banner, is gearing up for what promises to be one of the most consequential tournaments of the year.

Aurora Gaming and the road through Stage 3 Aurora Gaming enters the IEM Cologne Major 2026 at Stage 3, which features Best-of-Three match formats in its later rounds.

The Aurora roster is far from a one-man show, though. Alongside XANTARES, the team fields MAJ3R, woxic, soulfly, and Wicadia, with Fabre serving as coach.

Advertisement

But XANTARES remains the gravitational center. Video coverage from ESL has specifically highlighted his warm-up routines, offering a glimpse into the preparation habits that fuel his performance.

Why XANTARES commands attention His dedication to preparation has been a recurring theme in media coverage surrounding this event. Reports have noted his commitment to training routines alongside minor health concerns, a reminder that competing at the highest level of esports carries its own physical toll.

The warm-up footage from the Cologne stage is more than content filler. LAN environments introduce variables that online play does not, including different monitors, peripherals, and the ambient noise of a live arena.

The IEM Cologne Major 2026 format The IEM Cologne Major 2026 features expanded formats compared to previous iterations of the tournament. The inclusion of Bo3 matches in later stages means teams cannot rely on single-map flukes to advance.

For Aurora, this format could be a double-edged sword. A roster with XANTARES and woxic has the individual talent to steal maps from anyone. But sustained success in Bo3s requires tactical discipline, something that will test Fabre’s coaching and MAJ3R’s leadership throughout the event.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

Aurora Gaming took down G2 Esports in a best-of-three series on June 13, improving to a 2-1 record in the Swiss stage of the IEM Cologne Major 2026. The win is significant on its own merits. But the more interesting storyline sits just off the server.

Aurora isn’t just another Counter-Strike 2 squad grinding through a Major. The organization has quietly built financial infrastructure that bridges esports and crypto, including a partnership with Polymarket and backing from a well-funded crypto platform.

Advertisement

The match and what it means for the Major This isn’t even the first time Aurora has gotten the better of G2 in 2026. Back on March 9-10, Aurora beat G2 during ESL Pro League Season 23 Stage 2, qualifying for the LAN Finals in the process. G2 finished that stage at 2-2.

Where crypto enters the picture The partnership with Polymarket, the prediction market platform, creates a direct feedback loop between match outcomes and financial activity. The June 13 match reportedly generated notable activity on prediction market platforms including Polymarket and Kalshi.

It’s worth clarifying one thing that occasionally causes confusion. Aurora Gaming has no connection to the Aurora (AURORA) token associated with the NEAR Protocol blockchain. Different Auroras, completely different ecosystems. The esports organization is its own entity with its own crypto partnerships.

The prediction market angle investors should understand Polymarket proved during recent election cycles that real-money prediction markets can generate serious volume and cultural relevance. Kalshi has been pushing into regulated prediction markets in the US. Both platforms expanding into esports signals that the addressable market for prediction-based speculation is broadening well beyond politics and macroeconomics.

The fact that a mid-stage Swiss round match between two CS2 teams is generating trackable volume on major prediction platforms suggests that esports is becoming a viable, recurring content category for these markets.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

Two of Europe’s most consistent Counter-Strike squads just took a hit in the world rankings, and they didn’t even have to lose a match to do it.

MOUZ and Aurora each dropped one position in the latest HLTV world rankings after ESL Pro League Season 23 was removed from the “Recent LANs” calculation window. The shift comes during the IEM Cologne Major, where both teams are actively competing.

How HLTV rankings actually work HLTV updates its rankings on a weekly basis, with LAN performance weighted heavily toward recency. When a tournament like EPL S23 rolls off that window, teams that performed well at that event lose the points associated with it.

Advertisement

In this case, both MOUZ and Aurora had strong showings at EPL S23. MOUZ placed in the #2-3 range at the finals, while Aurora finished around #7-8. Those results were propping up their rankings. Once the event aged out, gravity did its thing.

What this means during IEM Cologne The timing makes this more interesting than a typical weekly shuffle. IEM Cologne Major is currently underway, meaning both MOUZ and Aurora have a live opportunity to recover those lost positions.

Aurora faces a similar situation. The team has built a reputation as a consistent top-10 presence in European Counter-Strike. Rankings do matter when it comes to tournament invitations and sponsorship negotiations.

The broader pattern of ranking volatility This isn’t the first time teams have been reshuffled by the aging-out of tournament results, and it won’t be the last. HLTV’s system has historically produced similar drops when BLAST or IEM events fall outside the recency window.

For fans and analysts tracking the competitive landscape, the key takeaway is straightforward: rankings are a lagging indicator of form, not a predictive one. A one-spot drop caused by tournament rolloff tells you more about HLTV’s methodology than it does about either team’s current quality.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

Aurora Gaming, currently ranked #7 in the world, will square off against BetBoom Team, ranked #14, in the quarterfinals of the 2026 IEM Cologne Major on June 18. The best-of-three matchup is a compelling one on paper, but the real story sits on Aurora’s jersey: Polymarket, the decentralized prediction platform, is now the team’s main sponsor.

That sponsorship deal, announced on June 10, makes this quarterfinal one of the more symbolically loaded matches in recent Counter-Strike history. One team is backed by a traditional betting operator. The other is repping a crypto-native prediction market.

The matchup and what’s at stake Aurora’s roster features MAJ3R, XANTARES, woxic, Wicadia, and soulfly, with Fabre coaching. BetBoom Team fields Boombl4, d1Ledez, FL4MUS, Magnojez, and zorte. Ranked seven spots below Aurora, they’re technically the underdog.

Advertisement

Polymarket meets Counter-Strike Polymarket is a platform where users trade on the outcomes of real-world events using crypto. The platform exploded in popularity during the 2024 US presidential election cycle and has been expanding its footprint aggressively since.

Aurora locked in this deal roughly a week before the Major quarterfinals, meaning maximum eyeballs are on the Polymarket brand at exactly the moment Aurora is performing on the biggest stage.

The broader sponsorship landscape tells a different story The 2026 IEM Cologne Major itself does not feature prominent crypto sponsorships. The shift has been toward traditional betting operators, with companies like BetBoom occupying the space that crypto firms once targeted aggressively.

Aurora’s Polymarket deal is a team-level sponsorship rather than a tournament-level one, which suggests that crypto companies may be finding more value in targeted partnerships with specific rosters than in broad event sponsorships.

What this means for investors and the prediction market space Esports generates hundreds of matches per week across multiple titles, each with clearly defined outcomes. The audience already lives online, already holds crypto, and already has opinions about who’s going to win.

When a prediction market sponsors a team competing in matches that the same platform lists for trading, the structural conflict of interest is the kind of thing that invites scrutiny, particularly as the prediction market sector scales.

For traders and stakeholders in the prediction market vertical, the key metric to watch is whether liquidity on esports-related markets increases following high-visibility events like this Major quarterfinal. If Aurora’s Polymarket deal drives measurable growth in trading volume on match outcomes, expect other prediction platforms to pursue similar partnerships.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

https://us.furia.gg/

FURIA’s performance at the IEM Cologne Major 2026 has concluded with the team finishing 12th overall, marking a significant increase in their Valve points to 1700. This development comes as the tournament enters its final stages at the LANXESS Arena in Cologne, Germany. Despite a fairytale run, FURIA’s journey ended before the grand finals, impacting their standings in the highly competitive esports event. The increase in Valve points underscores the team’s progress, yet their exit suggests a missed opportunity to compete for the championship title.

Advertisement

Key Takeaways FURIA’s exit before the grand finals appears consistent with decreased likelihood of reaching the final stage of the IEM Cologne Major 2026. The team’s increase to 1700 Valve points suggests a solid performance, although it wasn’t sufficient for a grand final berth. Pricing suggests market participants view FURIA’s early exit as a significant factor reducing their chances in related markets. What to Watch The conclusion of FURIA’s run at IEM Cologne may drive shifts in market views on other teams, such as Aurora, which could benefit from FURIA’s absence in the finals. Observers will be looking at upcoming match outcomes, especially Aurora’s performance against other top teams. The final stages of the tournament may further alter the competitive landscape and impact future market rankings.

Get prediction market intelligence as a structured API feed. Early access waitlist.

Iem Cologne Major 2026 Reach The Grand Final

Contract Odds Δ since publish Volume 24h June 21 2026 100% +40¢ — View market → June 21 2026 55% — — View market → June 21 2026 100% +57¢ — View market → June 21 2026 40.5% — — View market → Iem Cologne Major 2026 Winner

Contract Odds Δ since publish Volume 24h June 21 2026 12.1% — — View market → June 21 2026 36.1% — — View market → June 21 2026 100% +71.5¢ — View market → June 21 2026 20.8% — — View market → Cs2 Aur1 Furia 2026 06 20

Contract Odds Δ since publish Volume 24h June 20 43.5% — — View market → Updated 1min ago

⚡ Also Impacted by This Story

Counter-strike: aurora gaming vs FURIA (BO3) - IEM cologne major playoffs bearish

44% FLAT

As traditional finance warms to blockchain, a new report by Ripple highlights growing bank investments in digital assets.

From early-stage funding to quantum-secure tokenization, global banks are reshaping their role in the evolving financial landscape. The shift signals blockchain’s transition from experimental tech to strategic infrastructure.

Banks Are Going Beyond Pilots and ProofsBetween 2020 and 2024, global banks made 345 blockchain-related investments. A new Ripple report reveals how traditional finance is rapidly entering the digital asset space. These deals show that banks see long-term value in blockchain infrastructure and tokenization technologies.

Leading institutions like JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and SBI Group emerged as aggressive early-stage investors. Most of their deals focused on seed and Series A funding rounds. This reflects a willingness to back foundational projects aligned with long-term digital finance strategies.

In Brazil, CloudWalk secured over $750 million from Banco Itaú, BTG Pactual, and Banco Safra. The company uses blockchain to streamline domestic payments and has since expanded into the US CloudWalk’s funding represents one of the largest blockchain investments by traditional banks.

Germany-based Solaris raised more than $100 million in 2024 with participation from Japan’s SBI Group. The company has launched Germany’s first regulated digital asset trading venue and a security token platform. SBI later acquired a majority stake in Solaris to expand its European footprint.

Another major deal came from NYDIG’s $1 billion round in 2021, backed by Morgan Stanley and MassMutual. This funding helped expand NYDIG’s institutional bitcoin platform, although the project was phased out in 2024. Still, Morgan Stanley quickly pivoted by offering bitcoin ETFs via BlackRock and Fidelity.

Despite a downturn in 2022 and fallout from the FTX collapse, bank activity rebounded slightly in 2024. While the number of deals declined, total deal value increased year-over-year. This suggests a shift from experimental investments to more strategic, higher-stakes plays.

G-SIBs Show Cautious but Committed ParticipationGlobal Systemically Important Banks (G-SIBs) participated in 106 blockchain deals during the same period. These included 14 mega-rounds and numerous partnerships with crypto firms. G-SIBs largely avoided full acquisitions, opting for agile collaboration models.

Key G-SIB-backed firms include Talos, Fnality, Partior, HQLAx, and TradeWaltz. These startups focus on institutional-grade trading, tokenization, wholesale payments, and supply chain digitization. Their platforms aim to address real-world pain points in global finance.

Fnality builds interbank payment rails using central bank-backed digital cash. Talos connects institutional traders with crypto exchanges and OTC desks. Partior enables real-time, cross-border settlements through a shared blockchain ledger.

Quantum-Safe Tokenization Marks the Next FrontierHSBC stands out for its bold move into quantum-secure blockchain applications. In 2024, it piloted tokenized gold using post-quantum cryptography and quantum random number generation. These technologies aim to protect digital assets from future quantum computing threats.

HSBC launched the Gold Token for retail clients in Hong Kong in March 2024. The token provides fractional ownership of physical gold via a regulated blockchain platform. This marks a major step in bringing tokenized assets to everyday investors.

Such innovations reflect a growing belief that tokenization enhances liquidity, accessibility, and efficiency in financial markets. Fractional ownership models are expanding investment access across demographics. Institutions are positioning themselves to capitalize on this shift.

Top-tier banks are building proprietary digital asset systems like JP Morgan’s Kinexys and HSBC’s Orion. Meanwhile, regional banks are forming partnerships with fintechs or joining shared infrastructure projects. A 2022 survey showed 11% of U.S. community banks plan to offer crypto services.

As competition intensifies, more banks are likely to follow suit. Blockchain is no longer an experimental edge case. It is becoming a core element of modern financial infrastructure.

The KyberSwap attacker has transferred another 2000 ETH to Tornado Cash, with over 80% of the stolen funds now laundered.

According to PeckShield’s monitoring, an address identified as the KyberSwap attacker has once again transferred 2,000 ETH to Tornado Cash. Over the past two years, this attacker has cumulatively transferred and mixed 16,100 ETH via Tornado Cash, equivalent to roughly $40 million at current prices, accounting for over 80% of the $48.8 million lost in the KyberSwap attack in November 2023. Some of the stolen funds have not yet been fully transferred.

1 seconds ago

James Wynn closed out his 40x Bitcoin short position, netting $30,000 in profits, and shifted to opening a 50x S&P 500 short position.

According to monitoring by OnchainLens, James Wynn has liquidated his 40x leveraged Bitcoin (BTC) short position, pocketing roughly $30,000 in profit. He subsequently opened a new 50x leveraged S&P 500 (SP500) short position at a price of 334.42, betting on a future decline in the US stock market.

1 seconds ago

Micron's conference call delivers strong signals: the memory shortage will continue until 2028, and AI long-term contracts are rewriting the industry cycle narrative.

Micron Technology (MU) revealed in its early-morning earnings call that its strategic customer agreements rose from 1 to 16 sequentially, covering roughly 20% of its DRAM shipments and around one-third of its NAND shipments. Of these deals, 14 calculated at minimum contract prices represent a cumulative remaining revenue of approximately $100 billion. CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said these agreements will "fundamentally transform" the company’s business model. The key takeaway for the market is that Micron is being repositioned from a highly cyclical memory stock to an AI infrastructure provider with far greater revenue visibility. During the call, Micron disclosed it expects industry tightness to persist beyond 2027, and even as supply gradually improves in 2028, there is no clear timeline for supply to catch up with demand. Management attributed this gap to the large scale, complexity, and long lead times of new semiconductor fab construction. CFO Mark Murphy noted that DRAM revenue jumped 343% year-over-year to $31.3 billion, while NAND revenue surged 361% YoY to $9.9 billion. DRAM prices rose in the low-60% range, and NAND prices increased in the mid-80% range. He explained that the quarter’s earnings, which handily beat market expectations, were driven more by pricing power and supply-demand imbalances rather than just shipment volume. The company forecasts capital expenditure of roughly $10 billion this quarter, and $27 billion for full fiscal 2026. Fiscal 2027 quarterly capex will exceed the FY2026 fourth quarter level, with more than half allocated to cleanroom construction. However, the CFO also stated that free cash flow for the current quarter is expected to continue rising sharply. Overall, the call’s messaging sent three key signals to the market: persistent memory shortages, customer willingness to sign long-term agreements, and further upside for prices. This drove Micron’s (MU) shares to surge nearly 16% in U.S. post-market trading.

1 seconds ago

A poll shows that a majority of U.S. voters support federal unified regulation of prediction markets.

Two polls commissioned by the Coalition for Prediction Markets show that U.S. Republican and Democratic voters both prefer federal-level unified regulation of prediction markets over state-by-state oversight. Among Republican respondents, 48% support a federal regulatory framework, while only 27% back state-level regulation. For Democratic voters, 45% favor federal regulation, compared to 35% who support state-level rules. Only 8% of respondents believe prediction markets should be banned in the U.S., and a majority of voters support consumer autonomy to choose whether to participate in such markets. The survey also found that people under 35 have the highest acceptance of prediction markets, with more than half of young respondents expressing interest in using or having already used related platforms. Currently, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and prediction market platforms including Kalshi and Polymarket are in disputes with multiple state governments over regulatory authority, with the core focus being whether sports event contracts qualify as prediction market products subject to federal regulation.

1 seconds ago

Analysis: Bitcoin miners face profit pressure, with around 20% of mining firms now operating below the break-even point.

Bitcoin miners' revenue continues to decline, with the current 7-day average daily income dropping to around $30 million, a notable pullback from the over $50 million level seen last summer. Meanwhile, on-chain transaction fee revenue has fallen to less than $250,000, accounting for an extremely small share of miners' total income. Data from JPMorgan Chase shows the average production cost is approximately $78,000, and Bitcoin’s price has remained below this level for five consecutive months — the longest such stretch in the current cycle. An estimated 20% of miners are already operating at a loss; some high-cost miners have begun frequently powering their mining rigs on and off in response to price fluctuations, leading to a stronger correlation between network hash rate difficulty and Bitcoin’s price. Additionally, Bitcoin’s mining difficulty was adjusted down by roughly 10% in the second week of June, marking the second pullback of the same magnitude this year. Publicly listed mining companies, meanwhile, are relying more on their balance sheets to sustain operations, selling over 32,000 BTC in the first quarter alone to cover operating costs. Analysts note that against the backdrop of continuously shrinking block subsidies and stagnant fee revenue, a recovery in miners’ profits will primarily depend on a rise in Bitcoin’s price.

1 seconds ago

Japan and South Korea's stock markets opened higher, with South Korea's KOSPI index rising 2.9% and SK Hynix surging 11%.

According to Bitget market data, the Nikkei 225 index opened 1.4% higher at 70114.09. South Korea’s KOSPI index rose 2.9%. South Korean stocks SK Hynix gained 11%, while Samsung Electronics rose 5%.

1 seconds ago

PANews reported on February 12th, citing Bloomberg, that the UK Treasury has selected HSBC Holdings' blockchain platform, Orion, for a pilot issuance of digital gilt-edged bonds in the country. In a statement on Thursday, HSBC said that issuing bonds based on blockchain technology could speed up settlements, thereby improving the structure of the UK debt capital markets. The UK government plans to issue DIGIT digital gilt-edged bonds in a regulated testing environment managed by the Financial Conduct Authority, and issued a tender for this in October last year.