Merit Circle(MC)

Hydra Ventures DAO, a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) backed by prominent investors like 1kx, ConsenSys, and Seed Club, is poised to disrupt the world of fund-of-funds investing with an innovative model tailored for the crypto industry.The brainchild of pseudonymous venture investor Pet3rpan, a partner at venture firm 1kx, Hydra Ventures has raised $10 million to create a DAO that will support other investment DAOs. "I think the cool thing about Hydra is that for the first time ever we have builders operating a fund of funds. Just ironic because most people who operate fund of funds come from an institutional capital background and I think this is the first science experiment where we see very active direct ecosystem participants operate fund of funds in a very crypto native way," Pet3rpan shares. DAOs are blockchain-based organizations without a central authority, employing blockchain technology for governance. According to data from DeepDAO, there are over 40 investment DAOs in existence. Pet3rpan was involved in the creation of one of the first investment DAOs, MetaCartel Ventures, which has 75 members and has invested over $13 million into more than 70 projects, including Gitcoin and Gnosis Safe. Pet3rpan initially considered the rapid deployment pace of investment DAOs as a drawback. However, he now sees it as an advantage, noting that "investment DAOs are really amazing vehicles for indexing exposure across a certain ecosystem or market focus." Hydra Ventures aims to invest in 30 to 40 DAOs, targeting up to 10% of the investment DAO itself. The core team of Hydra Ventures includes members from 1kx, MetaCartel Ventures, and Thing3. These members bring valuable experience in navigating the challenges of tax, accounting, and legal aspects of DAO operations. Hydra Ventures will integrate Thing3, an operations-focused service DAO, to address these issues. Stephen McKeon, managing partner at Collab+Currency, praised the Hydra Ventures DAO team, stating, "The venture DAO space is nascent and constantly evolving — so, to us, Hydra is well positioned to pioneer the DAO fund of funds model." Hydra Ventures is particularly interested in backing DAOs with a strong investment thesis. Pet3rpan believes that those who are passionate about a specific market domain or space have a considerable advantage in investing, deal flow, and due diligence. This conviction forms the core thesis for Hydra. Hydra Ventures started raising funds in June last year and closed the round in January. The funds will be stored in a diversified set of stablecoins, with plans to deploy the funds over three years instead of in perpetuity, like MetaCartel Ventures.Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Detroit, USA, 29th March, 2023, ChainwireForging a new path for musicians to use Web3 technologies, the video offers a glimpse into Royce’s new virtual world, the Heaven Experience. "Signs" is the first song released from Royce's New EP "The Heaven Experience: Lost Sessions," available Friday, March 31.In advance of his March 31 release of The Heaven Experience: Lost Sessions, platinum-selling, GRAMMY®-nominated rapper Royce 5'9" has dropped the video for “SIGNS,” the first offering from his new EP. Created with Web3 platform Passage, the video gives fans a sneak peek into the Heaven Experience, Royce’s new virtual world for fans and community.Watch the “Signs” video here.Forging a path for musicians and creators to use Web3 technologies, the video for the high-energy freestyle is built inside an immersive virtual world. In partnership with Passage, the Heaven Experience will offer exclusive opportunities to connect with Royce 5’9” throughout 2023.Of the initiative, Royce 5'9" says, "I have been searching for a better way to connect with my community for a while, but existing platforms haven't lived up to my expectations. Passage delivers on all fronts.”Heaven Experience pass holders will benefit from connecting directly to Royce and his team, real-time engagement with the community and artists, and access to exclusive songs, performances, interviews, events, apparel, and more. Passes for the Heaven Experience will be available on April 4.With the Heaven Experience, Royce 5’9” has doubled down on his commitment to Web3 and community, offering a unique, immersive space to authentically engage with fans. The initiative follows a successful 60-second sell-out of his first NFT offering, which gave fans a percentage of streaming royalties from the critically acclaimed single, “Caterpillar,” ft. Eminem and King Green.By allowing creators to connect directly with their audience in immersive, custom 3D virtual settings, Passage is empowering artists and brands to forge deeper relationships with their supporters and engage in ways that aren’t possible with existing social platforms.Fans interested in joining the Heaven Experience can join the waitlist at heavenexperience.com.Dropping March 31, The Heaven Experience: Lost Sessions EP can be found across all streaming platforms and on sale on iTunes through Heaven Studios Inc. in partnership with The Orchard.Royce 5’9” and Lex Avellino, Passage founder & CMO, are available for interview upon request.About Royce da 5’9”GRAMMY® award-nominated Royce 5'9" has balanced substance and style with the best in music. In addition to selling millions of records with a remarkable solo career, Royce co-founded Bad Meets Evil (with Eminem), Slaughterhouse (with Joe Budden, Joell Ortiz, and Kxng Crooked), and PRhyme (with DJ Premier). Known for confident wordplay, revealing accounts of life in Detroit, and holding Rap peers accountable, Royce is among Hip-Hop's most trusted brands. With a cult following earned by professional accolades in his career, Ryan Montgomery's pedigree is never a question. Instead, through recent releases, including the #1 album Layers (2016), Top 10 and critically acclaimed album The Book Of Ryan (2018), and the thought-provoking GRAMMY® award-nominated Allegory (2019), Royce has been a leader of culture. Once the self-proclaimed "best-kept secret" of Rap, having written award-nominated songs for many artists, this platinum-selling, list-topping MC consistently earns accolades. Partnering with Jay-Z and Roc Nation with the NFL for its "Inspire Change" initiative, Royce 5'9" has gone on to be one of hip hop's leading activists, recently launching his Ryan Montgomery Foundation and its mission to empower underprivileged communities through advocacy, education, and personal enrichment, and joining long-time friend Eminem as the Director of Community Engagement and Social Justice Initiatives for The Marshall Mathers Foundation. For more information, visit royce59.com.About PassagePassage, is a world builder and social layer for connecting physical and digital experiences. Built on Cosmos, Passage is blockchain agnostic and offers a suite of tools to make the Metaverse more accessible: in-browser streaming, cross-world commerce for fungible tokens and NFTs, and 3D communication infrastructure. The Passage ecosystem is fueled by PASG, the native utility token used in Passage worlds. For more information, visit passage.io.ContactsChief of StaffBryana [email protected] & FounderTresa [email protected]

[PRESS RELEASE – MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 29th March 2023] Brand Ambassadors Daniel Ricciardo, Scotty James, and McLaren F1 driver Oscar Piastri join event at Melbourne Arts Centre to celebrate ahead of Australian Grand Prix OKX, the second-largest crypto exchange by trading volume and a leading Web3 technology company, today announced that it will open an office […]

Enabling drivers and fleet operators to own and monetize their connected vehicle data IoTeX continues to take demonstrate why it is the leading DePIN technology provider DIMO puts vehicle owners back into the drivers’ seat offering enhanced mobility services IoTeX and DIMO are working to improve the driver and fleet operator experience for millions of vehicle owners worldwide. To kick off the partnership, IoTeX will build a W3bstream integration on the DIMO network and to invest in reducing the cost of the DIMO Hardware for users. IoTeX's goal is to drive the global transformation of mobility services on DIMO. Integrating W3bstream, the first smart device-to-smart contract off-chain compute infrastructure, onto the DIMO network, allows Web3 developers access to zero-party mobility data, unlocking the potential for groundbreaking automotive dApps that enable consumers and fleet operators to take control of their vehicle data. These dApps will also unlock significantly improved services, including automotive finance, insurance, shared mobility, maintenance, etc. Numbers that matter The DIMO-IoTeX partnership aims to improve driver and fleet operator experience for the 250 million connected vehicles on roads worldwide today, which represents 24% of all cars. By the end of this year, that number will increase to 350 million; by 2030, experts expect it to reach up to 2.5 billion. Furthermore, there are reports that data profits could surpass vehicle sales. A McKinsey report recently revealed that by 2030, 95% of all vehicles sold could be connected, and in that same study, they estimated that by then, data from advanced vehicles could represent a yearly income for their owners of about $600.. Other reports claim profit from vehicle data could soon surpass the cost of the vehicle itself. "DIMO solves a big problem and puts vehicle owners back in the digital driver's seat of their vehicles," said DIMO Co-Founder Andy Chatham. "Just four months after our network launched 10,000 vehicles that have traveled 50 million miles, more developers and users are starting to recognize that an open approach to vehicle connectivity will win." "Nine out of ten people believe they own and control their vehicle's data, and that isn't the case today," explained Chatham, co-founder of Digital Infrastructure Inc. "We're excited to have more partners helping us grow the DIMO project into a movement." An evolving partnership IoTeX, a Web3 infrastructure platform connecting intelligent devices and real-world data to blockchains, and DIMO, a platform connecting drivers and their data with developers and manufacturers to drive change in mobility services, have plans to evolve this partnership over time to continue delivering benefits to users. "We are thrilled to partner with DIMO to drive the future of mobility," said IoTeX CEO and Co-Founder Raullen Chai. "Combining our strengths in open, decentralized protocols and data privacy with DIMO's consumer products, open hardware ecosystem, and developer platform, we can create a user-owned digital ecosystem that empowers individuals and communities." Growing and succeeding The partnership will provide valuable opportunities for DIMO and IoTeX to grow and succeed in the DePIN sector. The scope of the collaboration includes integration with W3bstream, co-organizing developer hackathons on DIMO Data, co-marketing campaigns, and other initiatives to advance the future of mobility. IoTeX provides W3bstream, which can be viewed as a machine orchestration layer built on top of a blockchain that can organize and coordinate a set of machines to complete a specific task, enabling developers, businesses, and users to gather data from various sources, including trustworthy gadgets and machines connected to the Internet. DIMO allows users to create customized digital twins of their vehicles and save money and time with plugins for insurance, maintenance, tires, batteries, and even car sales and financing. Users earn rewards by using apps and services in the DIMO ecosystem and sharing aggregated data. Download the DIMO App here to try it today. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

Gary Gensler, Chairman of the SEC, has been summoned by U.S. lawmakers to clarify the agency’s rulemaking and approach to the digital asset industry. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has taken severe action against the crypto industry of late with practically no oversight from Congress as to what action it takes. However, it appears as if this will soon change. On Tuesday, Patrick McHenry, the United States House Financial Services Committee Chairman, announced during an interview that Gensler would appear before the House’s digital asset subcommittee on April 18. #NEW: Chairman @PatrickMcHenry confirms @SECGov Chair Gary Gensler will testify before the House Financial Services Committee on April 18th.Republicans will hold @GaryGensler accountable for his flagrant disregard for the law, jurisdiction, and the APA.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA, 29th March, 2023, ChainwireBrand Ambassadors Daniel Ricciardo, Scotty James, and McLaren F1 driver Oscar Piastri join event at Melbourne Arts Centre to celebrate ahead of Australian Grand PrixOKX, the second-largest crypto exchange by trading volume and a leading Web3 technology company, today announced that it will open an office in Australia in the coming months.The announcement was made at an exclusive event for Australia's crypto community at the Melbourne Arts Centre, and was attended by OKX Ambassadors Scotty James and Daniel Ricciardo.OKX Ambassadors Daniel Ricciardo (left) Scotty James (right)On 30 March, the Australian Grand Prix commences and will feature the OKX-sponsored McLaren F1 Team car driven by Australian Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.Haider Rafique, Chief Marketing Officer at OKX, said: "Our ambition is straightforward - to become the leading crypto platform in the world. We see Australia as an indispensable part of this strategy and a key growth market. With such a strong uptake of crypto in Australia already, we're committed to the local market and aim to build a strong local office."Daniel Ricciardo, Australian F1 driver and OKX Ambassador, said: "I'm very excited to see OKX plan an office in my home country. I had a great time celebrating with the OKX team and the crypto community today. The future looks bright for OKX in Australia."Scotty James, Australian Olympic snowboarder and OKX Ambassador, said: "Crypto never sleeps, and OKX continues to build its community. Australia is a special place for crypto, and it is exciting to see OKX announce it will be opening an office in Australia."OKX's commitment to trust and transparency is showcased by its publishing of Proof of Reserves (PoR) on a monthly basis. OKX holds the largest 100% clean reserves among major exchanges at USD$8.9 billion, according to third party data. Reserves and liabilities can be self-verified with trustless tools on the OKX website.OKX CMO Haider Rafique (left) and McLaren F1 Driver Oscar Piastri (right)OKX Ambassadors Scotty James (left), and Daniel Ricciardo (right) pose with OKX CMO Haider Rafique (center)About OKXOKX is a world-leading technology company building the future of Web3. Known as one of the fastest and most reliable crypto trading platforms for investors and professional traders everywhere, OKX’s crypto exchange is the second largest globally by trading volume and is trusted by more than 50 million users.OKX’s leading self-custody solutions include the Web3-compatible OKX Wallet, which allows users greater control of their assets while expanding access to DEXs, NFT marketplaces, DeFi, GameFi and thousands of dApps.OKX partners with a number of the world’s top brands and athletes, including: English Premier League champions Manchester City F.C., McLaren Formula 1, The Tribeca Festival, golfer Ian Poulter, Olympian Scotty James, and F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo.OKX is committed to transparency and security and publishes its Proof of Reserves on a monthly basis.To learn more about OKX, download our app or visit: okx.comDisclaimerThis announcement is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide any investment, tax, or legal advice, nor should it be considered an offer to purchase, sell, or hold digital assets. Digital assets, including stablecoins, involve a high degree of risk, can fluctuate greatly, and can even become worthless. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital assets is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. Please consult your legal/tax/investment professional for questions about your specific [email protected]

London, UK, 29th March, 2023, ChainwireMetacade, one of the most exciting GameFi ventures of 2023, has now raised over $14.7m as the presale goes into its final hours. With over 90% sold, the project expects to sell out ahead of their scheduled closing time, set for Friday 31st March at 23:59 Pacific Time.Metacade's CEO, Russell Bennett, commented: “We are rocketing towards the finish line and think we may even get there ahead of time, the support from the community has been fantastic and we’re delighted with our success so far. Although the work has only just begun for us, and now is time to prove what we can really do by overdelivering on our roadmap and other fronts!”Metacade tokens can be purchased until they sell out or until March 31st, whichever is sooner. Users can participate in the final stage presale here.The announcement of their impressive fundraising milestone follows a string of positive developments presented in a live 3 part ‘Metaseries’ by Metacade CEO Russell Bennet. This included a product walkthrough, highlighting the progress they have made so far, as well as a detailed overview of their staking plan and listing plans. The Metaseries can be viewed on their YouTube Streams channel here.Following on from the presale closing, Metacade will list their MCADE token on Uniwsap on the 6th April, and then BitMart on the week ending 16th April, with several more exchange partnerships following shortly after.As one of the first community-driven arcades in the blockchain arena, Metacade will offer a plethora of play-to-earn (P2E) games that will incentivize players with the native MCADE token based on their achievements. This a highly appealing option for those looking to explore the exciting world of community-driven arcades.Metacade's earning mechanism has been tailor-made to appeal to a wide range of blockchain enthusiasts, with the platform striving to become the go-to hub for Web3 users.The Metacade whitepaper highlights a number of noteworthy features, but one that particularly stands out is its innovative Metagrants program. Operating via a voting system, the program allows members of the Metacade community to propose and vote on projects that they deem worthy of funding. Once a project has been approved for funding, the developer receives a grant from the Metacade treasury, which they can use to develop their game.One of the key advantages of the Metagrants program is that it fosters the growth of the blockchain gaming industry by providing financial support to promising new projects for up-and-coming blockchain game developers.The Metagrants program operates in an innovative way that allows developers to submit funding applications to support the design and creation of the next generation of GameFi titles. Once submitted, these are then assessed by the Metacade community, where MCADE holders can cast their votes in support of their favorite proposals. The most popular ideas are awarded with crypto investments to support the game production process, with the first Metagrant game set to debut on the platform in Q1 of 2024.Metacade tokens can be purchased until they sell out or until March 31st, whichever is sooner. Users can participate in the final stage presale here.About MetacadeMetacade aims to become the go-to hub for gaming within the metaverse. As the first community arcade in the Web3 space, it provides a platform for gamers to socialize, share their gaming expertise, and play exclusive P2E games. By offering various income-generating opportunities and career-building pathways within the Web3 ecosystem, Metacade looks set to become an important hub for the gaming community to connect and engage with like-minded enthusiasts.Putting Metacade on par with other projects like The Sandbox, Polygon, and Axie Infinity, the highly anticipated P2E platform has earned approval from CertiK, a top-tier blockchain auditor, which gives investors peace of mind that the project's code and specifications have been reviewed and that the Metacade team has passed the KYC process, instilling confidence in the project's legitimacy.The overwhelming enthusiasm surrounding Metacade's presale is indicative of its potential to become the go-to GameFi hub for P2E gamers alongside a wide range of other use cases.Website| Whitepaper | Metacade SocialsContactCEORussell [email protected]

Toronto, Canada, 27th March, 2023, Chainwire​​XCMG Construction Machinery Co., Ltd. (000425.SZ), the world's third largest construction machinery manufacturers, announced a partnership with Conflux, a leading public blockchain network, and Zen Spark Technology Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based blockchain and fintech company. The partnership aims to leverage blockchain and Web3 technologies to explore more international use cases.The partnership between XCMG, Conflux, and Zen Spark Technology Pte Ltd will leverage the strengths of all three companies to explore new scenarios for the application of blockchain and Web3 technology in the global market. By combining XCMG's extensive global network with Conflux's cutting-edge technology and Zen Spark's fintech expertise, the three companies aim to develop new use cases for blockchain and explore the potential of Web3.XCMG currently ranks third place in the world's top 50 construction equipment manufacturers, according to KHL Group's Yellow Table 2022 ranking. In the first half of 2022, despite obstacles, XCMG expanded to overseas markets and achieved export revenue of RMB 12.488 billion ($1.83 Billion), a year-on-year increase of 157.28%. As a world leader in the construction machinery industry, XCMG's vision is driven by long-term investment and high-level innovation in research and development into the technology surrounding its equipment."We are excited to partner with Conflux and Zen Spark to explore new opportunities in global markets," said XCMG's Vice President of Machinery and General Manager of Import and Export Company, Liu Jiansen. The partnership between XCMG, Conflux, and Zen Spark Technology Pte Ltd is a significant milestone in the development of blockchain technology and its application in traditional industries. As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, the ability to leverage blockchain and Web3 technology to drive innovation and explore new business models is more important than ever."We are thrilled to partner with XCMG and Zen Spark to explore new opportunities in the global market," said Fan Long, Founder of Conflux. "With our cutting-edge blockchain technology, and the expertise of Zen Spark in fintech and blockchain, we are well-positioned to create new solutions and explore new use cases for blockchain and Web3 technology. This partnership is a testament to our shared commitment to innovation and our belief in the potential of blockchain to transform traditional industries.""Zen Spark is excited to be partnering with XCMG and Conflux on this initiative, and we are confident that our fintech and blockchain expertise will complement the strengths of our partners," said Grace, CEO of Zen Spark Technology Pte Ltd. "We look forward to exploring new opportunities in the global market and contributing to the development of innovative solutions that benefit businesses and consumers alike."At the CONEXPO-CON/AGG trade show in Las Vegas, XCMG announced their entry into Web3 by revealing Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT #3489 (BAYC #3489) as the brand's Metaverse Ambassador. Additionally, XCMG and Conflux plan to jointly issue their first NFT collection for overseas markets in the near future. As XCMG continues to explore new opportunities in the blockchain and web3 space, the company is excited to leverage its partnership with Conflux and Zen Spark Technology Pte Ltd and their expertise in distributed ledger technology and fintech to bring innovative solutions to the global market.The partnership between XCMG, Conflux, and Zen Spark Technology Pte Ltd will be closely watched by industry experts and investors, as the three companies explore new opportunities and drive innovation in the global market. With the power of blockchain and Web3 technology, the possibilities are endless, and the future looks bright for XCMG, Conflux, Zen Spark and the global community.About XCMGXCMG is the world's 3rd largest construction machinery company, holding the 65th position in China's Top 500 Companies, the 44th spot in China's Top 100 Manufacturing Enterprises, and ranking 2nd among China's Top 100 Machinery Manufacturers. Throughout its robust and steady growth in the global market, XCMG has systematically established a vast marketing network encompassing over 2,000 service terminals, more than 6,000 technical experts, and in excess of 5,000 marketing and sales service staff. This expansive network spans 183 countries and regions, enabling XCMG to consistently offer its worldwide clientele comprehensive, integrated, highly efficient, and convenient one-stop services, including pre-sales, sales, after-sales, and financing solutions.About Conflux NetworkConflux is a permissionless Layer 1 blockchain connecting decentralized economies across borders and protocols. Recently migrated to hybrid PoW/PoS consensus, Conflux provides a fast, secure, and scalable blockchain environment with zero congestion, low fees, and improved network security. As the only regulatory-compliant public blockchain in China, Conflux provides a unique advantage for projects building and expanding into Asia. In the region, Conflux has collaborated with global brands and government entities on blockchain and metaverse initiatives, including the city of Shanghai, McDonald’s China, and Oreo.About Zen SparkZen Spark Technology Pte Ltd, a Singapore-based blockchain and fintech company, is passionately committed to expanding the real-world applications of blockchain technology on a larger scale. Zen Spark Technology develops groundbreaking solutions that seamlessly integrate blockchain technology into real-world use cases. This includes areas such as supply chain management, digital identity verification, data security, and decentralized finance (DeFi), among others.ContactMelissa [email protected]

Victoria, Seychelles, 27th March, 2023, ChainwireOKX makes it more convenient than ever to directly deposit and withdraw Turkish Lira (TRY), streamlining the trading experience for Turkish usersFull features now live on Android, iOS and webOKX, the world’s second-largest crypto exchange by trading volume, today launched Turkish Lira (TRY) deposits and withdrawals on Android, iOS and web.The move comes as OKX deepens its focus on the fast-growing Turkish market and greatly expands its offerings for users around the world wanting to trade crypto with TRY.Haider Rafique, Chief Marketing Officer at OKX, said: “Our goal is to become the leading crypto platform in Türkiye. This starts with listening to the community about their needs and investing in the market. We want to give the Turkish community a platform to explore, experiment and dream up the future with us. Perhaps we will see the next big thing come out of Türkiye with the support from us and other crypto companies.”OKX recently announced its name sponsorship of Istanbul Fintech Week, taking place on 13-14 April, 2023. Tim Byun, OKX’s Global Government Relations Officer, will deliver a keynote at the event.Trust and transparency are paramount to OKX, which publishes its Proof of Reserves on a monthly basis and enables users to self-verify reserves and liabilities using open-source tools. OKX’s reserves have been evaluated by third-parties to be the largest 100% clean asset reserves of any major exchange.For more information on OKX, please visit OKX.com.About OKXOKX is the second-largest crypto exchange by trading volume and a leading Web3 ecosystem. It is known for being the fastest and most reliable crypto trading app for investors and professional traders everywhere.As a top partner of English Premier League champions Manchester City F.C., McLaren Formula 1, golfer Ian Poulter, Olympian Scotty James, and F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, OKX aims to supercharge the fan experience with new engagement opportunities. OKX is also the top partner of the Tribeca Festival as part of an initiative to bring more creators into web3.Beyond OKX’s exchange, the OKX Wallet is the platform's latest offering for people looking to explore the world of NFTs and the metaverse while trading GameFi and DeFi tokens.OKX is committed to transparency and security and publishes its Proof of Reserves on a monthly basis.To learn more about OKX, download our app or visit: okx.comThis announcement is provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide any investment, tax, or legal advice, nor should it be considered an offer to purchase, sell, or hold digital assets. Digital assets, including stablecoins, involve a high degree of risk, can fluctuate greatly, and can even become worthless. You should carefully consider whether trading or holding digital assets is suitable for you in light of your financial condition. Please consult your legal/tax/investment professional for questions about your specific [email protected]

Taking to Twitter, Mike McGlone, a Senior Macro Strategist at Bloomberg Intelligence, highlighted the firm’s report excerpts. Focusing particularly on the aspect that centres Bitcoin, McGlone shared...