💎📡

Godaddy Joins Forces With Ethereum Name Service to Link Website Domains With Blockchain Names, Allowing Crypto Payments for Millions

The Ethereum Name Service (ENS) has partnered with GoDaddy, a leading domain registrar, to integrate traditional domain names with blockchain technology. This collaboration enables over 20 million GoDaddy customers to link their domain names directly to the ENS, facilitating seamless access to blockchain benefits such as receiving cryptocurrency payments without any additional costs or need for technical expertise. This integration combines the conventional DNS protocol with ENS's blockchain-based naming system, making crypto transactions simpler and more accessible. For GoDaddy customers, this means they can now use their existing domain names (like .com) to receive crypto payments easily by connecting them to their ENS-compatible crypto wallets.

Blockchain domains can be integrated with crypto wallets to simplify the process of sending and receiving cryptocurrencies. For example, a .wallet domain can be used to receive 300+ coins and tokens on any blockchain network, effectively replacing long and complex wallet addresses with an easy-to-remember domain. The initiative also addresses technical barriers like high gas fees by introducing new smart contracts for cost-free linking of DNS and ENS domains, thereby enhancing the connectivity between the traditional web and the crypto ecosystem. This partnership represents a significant step towards bridging the gap between traditional internet domains and the blockchain, highlighting the potential of blockchain technology to simplify and secure online interactions and transactions.

🌐👉 For details on GoDaddy and the Ethereum Name Service’s partnership to integrate domain names with blockchain technology, check out the full article [HERE].

💎📲

MetaMask and Robinhood Team Up to Allow Users to Buy Crypto and Participate in Web3 dApps

MetaMask, the leader in self-custodial Web3 wallets, is launching a feature that allows users to buy cryptocurrencies through Robinhood. This integration with Robinhood Connect and MetaMask Buy Crypto provides a seamless way for existing Robinhood customers to fund their self-custody wallet via debit, bank transfer, or Robinhood buying power. This development is significant for Robinhood users as it offers more opportunities to use their crypto assets in a decentralized environment, potentially increasing one’s control and ownership over their digital assets. Additionally, it contributes to the decentralization of the crypto ecosystem by facilitating the bridge between traditional finance and the crypto economy.

MetaMask and Robinhood are no strangers to offering new products to crypto users. MetaMask has become synonymous with secure and versatile cryptocurrency transactions. It has partnered with several payment giants, like Stripe and PayPal. Robinhood has been expanding its crypto trading services to the U.K. and Europe, leveraging the EU's digital asset regulations, further underscoring its commitment to facilitating global crypto access and usage.

🌐👉 To learn more about how MetaMask provides easier access to cryptocurrencies through trusted and widely used platforms, read the full article [HERE].

💎🥸 

Crypto Traders Are Using OnlyFakes for Counterfeit IDs To Bypass KYC Compliance

The deepfake site OnlyFakes is pumping out sophisticated fake ID capable of fooling the KYC verification process on many crypto exchanges. For $15 each, these AI-generated counterfeit IDs cover 26 nations, including the United States and several European Union countries, and they accept payment in cryptocurrencies. The service has demonstrated its efficacy by bypassing KYC on exchanges like Binance and is popular among crypto hackers and scammers for evading identification and enhancing anonymity, complicating law enforcement's ability to track illicit activities. OnlyFakes claims its products are intended for entertainment purposes, yet their use in circumventing KYC checks underscores a significant security risk within the crypto industry.

The rapid and easy generation of fake documents, along with features like spoofing image metadata, highlights the sophisticated methods employed by individuals to evade KYC measures. Conversely, crypto platforms enforce KYC compliance to ensure user authenticity, prevent fraud, and comply with regulatory standards, aiming to create a secure and trustworthy environment for financial transactions. The clash between these security measures and evasion tactics like OnlyFake's service presents ongoing challenges for the crypto sector in safeguarding against fraudulent activities and maintaining regulatory compliance.

🌐👉 To get more details on the marketplace for fake identities and the KYC security risks involved, read the full article [HERE].

• China To Introduce Revised Crypto Anti-Money Laundering Regulations

• British Columbia Court Backs Ban on Crypto Mining in Canadian Province

• El Salvador To Expand Bitcoin Initiatives Following Bukele’s Landslide Re-Election

• Argentina President Javier Milei Drops Crypto Tax Plan

• Brazil’s IRS Identifies 25,000 Bitcoin Investors With Unreported Holding

The Editor's Insights

An Op-ed on a few articles that caught my eye this week.

Decentralizing Social Media and Games Could Help Everyone Involved Feel More Connected.

Over the last year or so, I've weaned myself off social media and transferred that 11 hours a week into mobile gaming. While time spent is no better than the other, the idea of being on your device and talking to people will always be there. So when I think about ways people can get more familiar with using crypto, besides trading it, my knee-jerk reaction is conversations and games. Decentralizing social media and gaming would do the job early. For me, the annoying part of social media is the ads after every other feed post. The worst part about gaming is spending hours (or months) leveling up or buying skins and not taking them into the next iteration of the game. It will be tough for ordinary people to care about their data enough to abandon their friends, family, and followers to switch to a new decentralized social app. However, new features in the crypto space are incentivizing users. Take Farcaster, for instance. The Ethereum-based social ecosystem dramatically increased user activity after launching interactive mini-apps called Frames. Frames is a dApp that allows people to create polls, live feeds, or interactive galleries from their posts- adding another level of engagement to static photos or videos. This launch saw daily active users surge nearly tenfold, with significant content posting and engagement growth from Influencers. This boost also resulted in a record-high daily revenue for the protocol, emphasizing the potential of integrating blockchain technology with social media platforms.

While Farcatrer decentralizes the social media aspect, traditional platforms like X are adopting crypto to merge the Internet with the Web3 world, but what about the Fortune 500 gaming studios? It's not as easy to just add NFTs to games, especially if people don't know what NFTs are or how to use them. The culture around developing games also has to change. One of the most anticipated games that have recognized that challenge is Shrapnel. Shrapnel is a blockchain-based first-person shooter game set to compete with other high-profile Web3 games on the Epic Games Store. Developed by Neon Machine, the game aims to involve its community in every development stage, promising a unique early-access experience. With strong backing and a significant online community, Shrapnel represents a pivotal moment for blockchain games entering mainstream gaming.

So what is the next trend? What excites people about using Web3-native social media apps or games?… Crypto: The Game, has entered the chat. Inspired by the TV show 'Survivor' and the live mobile quiz show phenomenon, HQ Trivia, Crypto: The Game offers a unique blend of physical and digital challenges, engaging players in a crypto-fueled competition. Contestants participate in daily challenges to win a significant ETH jackpot. This innovative game leverages crypto to address payment challenges seen in traditional online games, showcasing the potential of blockchain technology in interactive entertainment. It may be some time before the decentralized Internet becomes mainstream. Still, at least the industry is learning from the user's pain points and is working toward a community-centric future.