Crypto Daily Digest - April 12th

DeFi

• Cosmos builder Ignite launches $150m Web3 accelerator with participation from Alameda Research and others. Source
• Fidelity Investments launches two ETFs targeting crypto and metaverse. Source
• Uniswap Labs announces the launch of Uniswap Labs Ventures. Source
• Nebula Protocol releases details of launch sequence. Source
• Former Ethereum developer Virgil Griffith may face 63 to 78 months in prison. Source
• Mars Protocol announced that Delphi Labs' proposal on standardized process for governance proposals is live for vote. Source
• Voting aggregator Redacted Cartel announces V2 release. Source
• Automated DeFi Strategy Hawksight to IDO on AcceleRaytor. Source
• Mars Protocol has added Anchor governance token $ANC as collateral. Source
• Coinbase announces a list of assets to consider listing in Q2, including $ALEPH, $APT and other tokens. Source
• BlockSec team finds risk of Discord direct message scam, advises users to close Discord DMs. Source
• Options trading platform Dopex launches SSOV V3. Source
• Nigerian citizens have started using cryptocurrencies as a solution for storing and transferring assets. Source
• Terra Bridge adds support for Avalanche, Solana, Fantom, and many other networks. Source
• SlowMist says ERC721R example contract is flawed, essentially due to excessive owner permissions. Source
• Robinhood has listed $SHIB, $SOL, $MATIC and $COMP. Source
• Connext plans to conduct a live Amarok mainnet upgrade in June. Source

Policy & Regulation

• Iran will not allow crypto payments. Source
• CoinSwitch Kuber temporarily disables rupee deposits amid regulatory flux. Source
• Securrency Capital secures financial services permission from Abu Dhabi Global Market. Source

NFT

• Axie Infinity developer launches $1m bug bounty after $622M Ronin hack. Source
• Pixel metaverse Worldwide Webb tweeted that an airdrop will be made to landholders within the metaverse. Source
• LooksRare launches vulnerability bounty program. Source
• Meta will launch a new tool for Horizon Worlds to sell virtual goods. Source
• Binance launches Binance NFT Mini App feature. Source
• NFT decentralized platform Solv Protocol is now live on Arbitrum. Source
• Coinbase to launch Bored Apes-themed animated movie BAYC holders can participate in casting. Source
• Forbes expands into metaverse with launch of virtual billionaires NFT collection on FTX. Source
• Arbitrum launches ecosystem experience rewards program, which will give out free NFTs to users who complete tasks. Source
• Spike Lee has teamed up with The Seen Challenge to launch an NFT assortment centered on his 1986 function movie debut, She’s Gotta Have It. Source
• STEPN and ASICS will co-brand a limited edition virtual sneaker NFT. Source
• Fashion brand Zara launches first solo collection in the metaverse. Source
• NBA’s crypto chief registers second .Eth domain as league files for 4 NFT trademarks. Source

Fundings

• Circle Internet Financial, the issuer of USD Coin ($USDC), announces $400m funding round. Source
• Nomad, a cross-chain communication protocol, has closed a $22 million seed round led by Polychain Capital. Source
• DeFi company BloXroute closed a $70 million Series B round led by SoftBank Vision Fund 2. Source
• NFT platform Genies has closed a $150 million round of funding led by Silver Lake at a $1 billion valuation. Source
• Blockchain Game Civitas has closed a $20 million round of funding led by Delphi Digital and Three Arrows Capital. Source
• Animoca Brands acquires Need for Speed developer Eden Games. Source
• Epic Games closes $2 billion financing from Sony and Lego at a $31.5 billion valuation. Source
• Ubisoft invests in White Star Capital's second crypto fund as an anchor investor. Source
• IOST Foundation joins Big Candle Capital and others to launch $100 million EVM developer incentive fund. Source
• Volt Protocol, a stablecoin protocol, closes $2 million in funding led by Framework Ventures and others. Source
• Voyager Innovations closes $210M funding round at $1.4B valuation SIG Venture Capital leads. Source
• TiTi Protocol secures $3.5 million to build the first use-to-earn algorithm stablecoin. Source
• Fabric Ventures looks to close two web3 funds worth $245 million. Source
• Vovo raises $2M, led by IOSG Ventures, to create DeFi-structured products on Arbitrum. Source
• IDEG asset management partners with Coinbase Prime to launch actively managed ETH fund. Source