Ethereum R1 is a new donation-funded, tokenless Layer 2 rollup designed to offer a decentralized, censorship-resistant, and governance-minimized scaling solution for Ethereum

The S&P 500 rose 0.63% Thursday, boosted by strong Meta and Microsoft earnings, but futures slipped Friday as investors awaited the April jobs report and weighed Apple and Amazon tariff concerns. Gold fell to $3,235 as easing trade tensions cut safe-haven demand; markets await US jobs data for rate cut signals. The Coindesk Indices, which tracks the broader crypto market, rose 2.19%, with Bitcoin and Ether up 2.57% and 2.60%, respectively in the past 24 hours. Trade these markets and more with up to 500x leverage on Bybit MT5 using this 

Today's top performer is AR, which gained 16.8% following CloneX's successful migration to Arweave, sponsored by ArDrive.

Arweave (AR), founded in 2017, is a decentralized network for permanent data storage, using blockweave and Proof of Access to ensure long-term accessibility. It offers 200-year storage for a one-time fee, incentivized by AR tokens for miners. The system connects blocks efficiently to preserve and retrieve data, aiming to create a lasting digital knowledge repository. CloneX has successfully 

 to Arweave for permanent storage, with the support of ArDrive, which sponsored the migration of 100 GB of data. The process is nearly complete, with only Animus remaining to undergo decentralization.

Check out the latest prices, charts, and data of 

 is a new donation-funded, tokenless Layer 2 rollup designed to offer a decentralized, censorship-resistant, and governance-minimized scaling solution for Ethereum. Built on open-source code and the Nethermind Surge stack, it emphasizes credible neutrality, public good funding (with all fees burned after 2030), and infrastructure that remains free from VC control or centralized dependencies.

Yesterday, BTC spot ETFs saw $71.1M in total inflows, with $16M from GBTC and $55.1M from other ETFs.

 $BOOP tokens to active Solana memecoin traders and creators who promote memecoins or Solana dapps on X. To claim, users must connect their Solana wallet or X account and launch a free token. The airdrop arrives in 30 days, but growing the token’s market cap can accelerate the reward.

Beginner

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Ethereum R1 offers a decentralized rollup solution for Ethereum

This article dives into Bitcoin liquid staking protocol Lombard Finance, how LBTC works and how you can stake LBTC through Bybit Web3.

Bitcoin stands as the undisputed giant of the cryptocurrency space, commanding the largest market capitalization. Yet, much of its potential remains untapped, often sitting idle as a store of value rather than actively participating in the thriving 

 ecosystem. Lombard Finance aims to change this narrative by unlocking Bitcoin's utility and integrating it seamlessly into DeFi.

Lombard is built upon Babylon, the innovative Bitcoin staking protocol, and is incubated by Polychain Capital. Lombard’s flagship product, 

 (LST) for BTC. This article explores what Lombard Finance is and how LBTC works, and describes the Lombard ecosystem and how you can stake LBTC through Bybit Web3.

 is a liquid staking protocol that focuses on transforming 

's role in the digital economy. Its core mission is to evolve BTC from simply being a store of value — also viewed as 

 — into a productive asset that actively generates yield and participates within DeFi. Currently, a significant portion of Bitcoin's

 sits idle, lacking the native staking capabilities or cross-chain composability seen with assets such as 

Lombard Finance addresses this shortcoming by building on top of 

, a protocol that supports BTC staking without needing 

 or custodians. Babylon allows Bitcoin's economic weight to secure other 

 (PoS) chains and applications, creating a new yield source for holders. Lombard leverages this foundation to offer LBTC, making staked BTC liquid and usable across the DeFi market.

Lombard’s goal is ambitious: to channel Bitcoin's vast liquidity into DeFi. This could potentially double the ecosystem's 

 (TVL) if even a fraction of available BTC is introduced. Lombard believes this integration will catalyze significant growth and create more sustainable market dynamics by making BTC a core, yield-bearing primitive within DeFi.

Founders and investors of Lombard Finance

Lombard Finance was founded in April 2024 by a team with deep expertise within DeFi, drawing talent from established crypto projects like Polychain, Babylon, Argent, Coinbase and Maple. This collective experience underpins the protocol's design and strategic direction.

The project was notably incubated by Polychain Capital, a prominent crypto investment firm that also led Lombard's $16 million seed funding round (which was 

 in July 2024). This round saw participation from a wide array of significant players in the crypto space — including Babylon, dao5, Franklin Templeton, Foresight Ventures, HTX Ventures, Mirana Ventures, Mantle EcoFund, Nomad Capital, OKX Ventures and Robot Ventures — thus highlighting broad industry confidence in Lombard's vision. Strategic partnerships and contributions from exchanges like

 and Bitget are further bolstering its distribution and liquidity aggregation efforts.

LBTC is Lombard Finance's flagship product — a liquid staking token (LST) that represents Bitcoin staked through the Babylon protocol. Designed as a universal liquid BTC standard, LBTC is fully backed 1:1 by native Bitcoin, ensuring its value is directly tied to the underlying asset.

The token is yield-bearing, capturing rewards generated from securing PoS networks via Babylon staking. Crucially, LBTC remains liquid, meaning holders can freely use it across various DeFi applications — such as 

 and automated vaults — without sacrificing their underlying staked positions or associated yield.

LBTC is also designed for cross-chain compatibility, natively minted on supported blockchains like Ethereum, Base and Sui and using secure infrastructure [such as 

]. This avoids the risks associated with traditional bridging or wrapping methods, thus aiming to provide a more secure and seamless way to utilize Bitcoin across the multichain DeFi ecosystem.

Lombard Finance simplifies the process of putting Bitcoin to work within DeFi through its LBTC token. The mechanism is designed with security and user experience in mind, leveraging the Babylon protocol and a robust Security Consortium.

The core benefit of LBTC lies in its ability to unlock multiple layers of value simultaneously. Holders earn native yield from Babylon staking, potentially accrue additional rewards (such as Lombard Lux points) and gain access to diverse DeFi yield opportunities, all while maintaining the liquidity of their Bitcoin position. This transforms BTC from a static asset into a dynamic, yield-generating component of the DeFi ecosystem.

Lombard Finance is actively building a wide LBTC ecosystem that already boasts over 75 DeFi integrations. Security is foundational, anchored by the 14-member Security Consortium (including prominent names like Galaxy and OKX Ventures) and validating all critical operations alongside audits and bug bounties.

Core infrastructure relies both on Babylon for staking, and on the Chainlink CCIP for secure cross-chain movement, with EigenLayer integration 

. LBTC integrates with leading DeFi applications across lending platforms (e.g., 

) and automated vaults. The platform supports multiple blockchains (including Ethereum, Base, Sui, BNB Chain) and 

 (L2s), positioning LBTC as a versatile cross-chain asset.

Here's how you can stake BTC on Lombard and use LBTC in DeFi and automated vaults.

Lombard Finance (via its LBTC token) offers a compelling way for Bitcoin holders to put their assets into use, earn yield via Babylon staking and gain exposure to the expansive DeFi ecosystem — all while maintaining liquidity. Incubated by Polychain Capital and supported by a robust consortium and growing partner network, Lombard is positioning LBTC as a secure and versatile liquid Bitcoin standard.

It’s easy to participate in the Lombard ecosystem through 

, you can utilize your Bybit Web3 Seed Phrase Wallet to stake BTC and mint 

, Lombard's vault token that represents deposits in automated yield strategies. This provides you with a seamless gateway to access Bitcoin liquid staking and DeFi yields.

Ready to unlock your Bitcoin's potential? 

Intermediate

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Lombard Finance: Polychain-backed Bitcoin liquid staking protocol

The cryptocurrency market has entered a phase reminiscent of past altcoin seasons, primarily driven by Bitcoin's recent rebound to the $94K–$96K range. 

Altcoin season might have come with reviveding speculation 

The cryptocurrency market has entered a phase reminiscent of past altcoin seasons, primarily driven by Bitcoin's recent rebound to the $94K–$96K range. This resurgence has sparked renewed interest among retail traders, shifting focus from Bitcoin to smaller, more speculative altcoins. The overall market saw a 10% increase in value during the final eight days of April, contrasting with Bitcoin's 7% gain. This trend indicates a growing appetite for risk among investors, particularly in meme coins, which have seen a surge in social media discussions.

However, caution is warranted as elevated crowd enthusiasm often precedes market corrections. Historical patterns suggest that when buzzwords like "altseason" are dominating discussions, it may signal an impending price exhaustion. The current market dynamics reflect a shift toward speculative investments, raising concerns about the sustainability of this enthusiasm.

Bitcoin's bullish sentiment substantially improves

Bitcoin's position as the leading cryptocurrency has remained steady, with discussions around its price fluctuating significantly. Following a period of pessimism, when predictions dipped as low as $10K–$69K, sentiment shifted dramatically with the price recovery. Now, optimistic projections of $100K–$159K are dominating conversations, indicating a reversal in trader sentiment.

Despite Bitcoin's consistent presence in market discussions (approximately 25% of asset topics), the ratio of bullish-to-bearish commentary has grown increasingly favorable. This suggests a growing confidence among traders bolstered by Bitcoin's recent performance. However, it’s essential to monitor whether this bullish sentiment translates into sustained investment, or if it leads to overconfidence that may trigger a market pullback.

Ethere, once a robust contender in the altcoin arena, has struggled to regain retail investor confidence despite recent bullish commentary and promises of innovation from co-founder Vitalik Buterin. Its social media presence has dwindled to about 6–7% of discussions, a significant drop from previous years. This decline highlights the challenges Ethereum faces in re-establishing itself as a go-to investment in a market increasingly dominated by speculative assets.

Conversely, XRP has seen a notable increase in optimism surrounding ETF approvals, with expectations rising to 85%. This shift reflects a broader trend of institutional interest in cryptocurrencies, potentially paving the way for significant capital inflows. Meanwhile, Dogecoin's potential ETF listings have sparked renewed interest, transforming its image from that of a meme coin to a legitimate investment option. The growing dialogue surrounding institutional adoption of Dogecoin and XRP indicates a pivotal moment for these assets, suggesting they may play critical roles in the evolving cryptocurrency landscape.

Advanced

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Bybit x Santiment social sentiment report: Altcoin sentiment recovers despite Bitcoin’s resilience

Bybit Spread Trading allows traders to simultaneously buy and sell two related instruments in order to hedge risk or profit from price discrepancies. Read more.

Whether markets are flying high or wobbling unpredictably, one thing remains true: traders are always looking for smarter ways to 

 and find profit opportunities. That’s where Bybit Spread Trading comes in. This feature is tailor-made for those who want to go beyond basic buy/sell plays and start taking advantage of price discrepancies between related instruments. In this guide, we’ll walk through exactly how Bybit Spread Trading works, why it matters and how you can start using it today, whether you’re 

is a newly launched Bybit feature that allows users to simultaneously buy and sell two related instruments — such as Spot, Perpetual or Expiry contracts with different settlement dates — in order to hedge risk or profit from price discrepancies.

This type of trading strategy is popular among institutional and professional traders because it enables more precise, controlled market exposure. However, with Bybit’s interface, the barrier to entry is significantly lowered, opening the door for individual traders to tap with just a few clicks into a powerful set of tools.

At its core, Spread Trading on Bybit is about executing what’s called a combo trade. This means entering two positions at once: one long, one short. These positions are taken on related instruments, such as a BTC Spot trade and a BTC Perpetual contract, with the idea that their prices will either converge or diverge in a way that benefits your position.

When you place a buy combo, you’re buying the instrument with the longer expiration (the “far leg”) and selling the one that expires sooner (the “near leg”). 

A sell combo is the reverse: selling the far leg and buying the near leg. The profit (or loss) comes from how the spread between these two instruments shifts over time.

For example, if you believe the spread between a Perpetual and a Quarterly Futures contract will widen, you can buy the combo. If the spread increases after your entry, that movement becomes your profit. Bybit calculates your 

 prices automatically, based on the mark prices and your defined “order price,” so there’s no need to manually crunch the numbers.

Perhaps the most important feature here is atomic execution. This ensures both sides of your combo trade are filled together, in equal quantities, or the trade doesn’t go through at all. It removes “leg risk,” which is the danger of getting filled on one side of the trade, but not the other. In volatile markets, that alone can save you from an unwanted mess.

Spread Trading on Bybit currently supports combinations such as Spot and Perpetual, Spot and Expiry, Perpetual and Expiry, or even two Expiry contracts with different dates. This flexibility lets you build strategies that align with different market outlooks — bullish, bearish or neutral.

There’s a strong reason why Spread Trading is a go-to for many experienced traders: it allows for strategic plays that are more sophisticated than just guessing price direction. On Bybit, it’s not only powerful, but also convenient.

First, you get price certainty. Your spread is locked in at the price you specify. There’s no 

 between legs because the entry prices are automatically calculated and matched. You’re trading the spread, not the individual legs.

Secondly, the trading experience is smoother. Instead of placing two separate orders and manually trying to sync them, Bybit handles everything as a single transaction. You don’t have to worry about whether one leg gets filled and the other doesn’t — that risk is eliminated through atomic execution.

Third, this setup is a great hedge against volatility. By taking opposing positions on two related contracts, you reduce exposure to sharp price movements. Your P&L becomes more about the relative performance between contracts, rather than the market direction itself.

There’s also a strong cost advantage. Trading spreads on Bybit is significantly cheaper than doing it manually. You pay only half the trading fees you’d incur if you placed two individual trades on the order book. For high-volume or 

, that translates to meaningful savings over time.

Finally, it unlocks strategy flexibility. Whether you're 

 funding rates between Spot and Perpetual, doing 

 with different Futures contracts or taking advantage of price convergence before expiry, this platform gives you the tools to execute those ideas efficiently.

How to get started with Bybit Spread Trading 

Now that you have a better understanding of how Bybit Spread Trading works, let’s look into how to get started. Please note that you’ll need to have a Bybit account in order to proceed. If you don’t already have one, please check out our 

 for more information on how to create a Bybit account.

: Log in to your Bybit account and hover your cursor over the 

: The available spreads are organized in a grid, with each tile representing a unique combo. Choose your preferred combo to trade.

Tiles with a border around them signify that Spread Trading offers a better price. Hover over a tile for more details, or use the bar at the bottom of the grid to explore more options.

On the order placement page, set up your order with the following parameters:

to place your order. A pop-up window will appear for you to confirm your order details. Then, click on 

Congratulations — you’ve successfully placed an order!

You can view your Spread Trading orders from any trading page (Spread Trading, Spot and Futures), as they all share the same order data.

 to view your active orders. You’ll be able to view the combo, underlying asset, order price and more. 

If you would like to adjust your order parameters, you may click on the pencil icon under 

. To cancel your order, simply click on the order’s corresponding 

to view your completed orders. To view each order’s information on each leg, click on the order’s corresponding 

button. For additional insights, click on 

Spread trading isn’t for everyone — but if you’re someone who enjoys strategic trading, hedging or arbitrage, it’s a tool worth adding to your arsenal. It appeals to traders who are less interested in taking a directional bet, and more focused on capitalizing on inefficiencies in the market.

You don’t have to be a pro trader to benefit, either. The simplified execution and intuitive UI mean even intermediate users can explore advanced strategies without being overwhelmed. As long as you understand how spreads work, and how your P&L is affected by their movement, you’re already halfway there.

More importantly, in times of market uncertainty or low volatility — when price action feels sluggish — spread trading gives you an alternative way to profit. It keeps you in the game — even when momentum plays aren’t cutting it.

Bybit Spread Trading is a powerful tool that combines simplicity with sophistication. Whether you're looking to hedge, save on fees or experiment with 

 strategies, it offers a clean and user-friendly way to do so. With lower risk, lower costs and plenty of flexibility, Bybit Spread Trading is a smart move for any trader looking to level up their game — especially when markets get messy.

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Bybit Spread Trading: Smart strategies for market swings

Altcoins

Crypto

Smart devices are the future. Discover a brand new world with IoTeX (IOTX), a network that aims to connect IoT devices and DApps.

IOTeX.png

Founded in 2017, IoTex is a scalable blockchain network that takes the internet of things (

) landscape to a new level. An exponentially increasing market, IoTeX aims to become the blockchain powering the IoT ecosystem. 

, the IoT market was valued at $308.97 billion in 2020. Its value is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.4% to reach approximately $1,855 billion by 2028. IoT devices are able to gather and transfer large amounts of data, and IoTeX aspires to become the underlying blockchain to facilitate transactions in a secure manner.

IoTeX’s native cryptocurrency, IOTX, has been on a bullish run lately. Although its price started at $0.06, IOTX achieved an all-time high (

) of over $0.15 in the last few days of this writing, providing 

, IoTeX is an easily scalable, decentralized blockchain network serving the IoT. According to its developers, “[E]veryday people and businesses can own and control their devices” via IoTeX, which uses a blockchain-in-blockchain mechanism with a single root block and multiple 

 connected to it. Its unique roll-delegated proof of stake (Roll-

) consensus mechanism gives it the speed and scalability to connect IoT devices block by block.

Number of devices connected and transactions made by IoTeX. Source: iotex.io

With a team of over 30 researchers, IoTeX has connected over 9,500 devices and completed more than 14 million transactions to date. Two devices connected on the IoTeX blockchain network are:

Products and services by IoTeX. Source: iotex.io

IOTX is the cryptocurrency that fuels the workings of the IoTeX blockchain. It’s an 

 that acts as an entryway to the IoTeX market. Using the IOTX token, you can connect IoT devices to the IoTeX network. Network transactions below $0.10, 

) are all facilitated with the help of IOTX tokens.

IOTX coin holders can participate in the IoTeX network’s governance team by staking and voting for delegates, thereby shaping the future of the network. Anyone who owns IOTX can deposit it to earn voting power, which enables users to cast votes and help govern the IoTeX ecosystem. By voting, users can also earn up to 10% of the total amount they stake.

IoTeX works by connecting machines with humans through a scalable blockchain network. While scalability is a major issue for many blockchain networks, IoTeX overcomes this hurdle by enabling real-time transactions at very low cost. Different IoT applications have different needs, and it’s impossible to put all connected IoT 

The IoTeX blockchain focuses on this area by delegating duties via sidechains. Each sidechain is built to provide a unique function of a given application. Attached to the root block, these sidechains can interact with each other when required, decreasing the load on a single blockchain and increasing efficiency levels.

IoTeX’s blockchain-in-blockchain infrastructure. Source: whitepaper.io

The root chain is responsible for providing security and enabling governance over the network, while its sidechains or subchains make it possible to connect to IoT devices with similar purposes, or to work in a similar environment.

IOTX has several different purposes in the IoTeX blockchain. It’s useful for everyone participating in the network, including delegators, stakeholders and service providers. The core purpose of the IOTX coin is to establish the incentives required to ensure appropriate maintenance and functioning of the IoTeX network in a decentralized manner. 

While most blockchain networks are built atop the foundation of already-existing blockchains like 

, IoTeX’s blockchain network is built from scratch, from its IoT middleware to the unique Roll-DPoS consensus it utilizes.

Another thing that makes IoTeX unique is its approach to creating real decentralization on its blockchain. Typically, today’s IoT devices and the data they collect are governed and controlled by private or public organizations. In order to access the services of IoT devices, users often have no choice but to give businesses consent to use their data. 

The IoTeX blockchain envisions a future where smart device users have control over their data. IoTeX empowers a decentralized network for IoT devices where consumers can take privacy into their own hands — while ensuring the quality of services offered isn’t compromised.

IoTeX solves the scalability issue of most blockchain networks through four major components: Roll-DPoS, Layer 2 chains, edge computing and cross-network communication.

Roll-DPoS consensus works by electing a specific number of delegates/block producers for a blockchain network. Stakeholders use their votes to elect the block producers, who then have to continue building blocks and adding them to the network. The delegates are rewarded for adding new blocks, and distribute the rewards received to the stakeholders who voted for them. Both block producers and stakeholders are thus incentivized to maintain the decentralization of the IoTeX blockchain.

oll-delegated proof of stake consensus (Roll-DPoS). Source: whitepaper.io

IoTeX’s blockchain-in-blockchain network is made possible with the use of 

chains. It provides an open architecture for adding multiple use cases and applications based on different 

. This is done through mutually collective trust developed from the same pool of delegates, making it hassle-free to create a subchain to add different IoT devices.

Using Layer 2 chains, IoTeX blockchain enables 

 to share an economy of trust for building privacy-centric DApps.

IoTeX’s root chain can facilitate communication with all the subchains, enabling cross-chain interactions and governance. This is achieved through its 

 mechanism. Block finality ensures that any block created on the IoTeX network, whether on the root chain or subchain, cannot be changed. This safeguards privacy while allowing interoperability.

 and a 24-hour trading volume of nearly $37 million. As of this writing, IOTX’s 24-hour high and low are $0.13 and $0.12, respectively. Out of its maximum supply of 10 billion tokens, IOTX’s current 

Current price of IOTX coin. Source: Bybit

There was no public sale held for the initial supply of IOTX coins. However, a private sale was held in February 2018. At that sale, 24% of the total supply was released of which 6% was distributed immediately, 6% in February 2019, 6% in May 2019 and another 6% in November 2019.

The remaining 76% was reserved as follows:

While the IoTeX network can positively impact the global blockchain infrastructure, it’s not free of flaws. Here are some pros and cons of its 

Since smart devices can collect a huge amount of data, the biggest challenge is to transfer that data over the blockchain. With IoTeX’s Layer 2 chains, the speed of each transaction is increased while its cost is greatly reduced, making it easier for users to adopt the blockchain network.

As the IoTeX network enables users to control their data, they don’t have to choose between privacy and services, unlike with other IoT networks.

IoTeX’s root chain and subchain architecture allow 

 among applications and smart devices connected with each sidechain. This interoperability allows devices to increase efficiency by engaging with each other when required.

Since the Roll-DPoS consensus selects specific delegators who govern the blockchain network, it isn’t completely decentralized.

Like many new cryptos, IOTX is highly volatile — which can be observed from the sudden ups and downs in its price thus far.

IoTeX shows great promise, and could pave the way ahead for IoT and blockchain. One of its closest competitors is 

, a project which shares its vision of secure data exchange. Compared to IoTeX, IOTA’s transactions fees are higher, as it uses a tool called DAG (

IOTX has seen tremendous growth over the past few weeks. If this trend persists, we might see a long 

. Of course, how the crypto will perform in the future also depends on factors such as new partnerships, products and

 (decentralized finance) but tailored to machines. IOTX reached its current ATH of $0.26 following IoTeX’s MachineFi announcement in November 2021.

IOTX’s all-time high after announcing the launch of MachineFi. Source: CoinMarketCap

That being said, let’s take a look at some IOTX price predictions. 

 sees IOTX’s price exceeding $0.18 in 2022, and closing in on the $0.50 mark by 2028. Similarly, 

 forecasts a bullish run, predicting IOTX’s price to exceed $0.21 in 2022 and surpass $0.60 by 2026. Overall, it’s evident that IOTX is a good investment for the long term. However, as we’ve said, bear in mind that it’s a new cryptocurrency which is prone to volatility.

You can easily buy IOTX from a number of crypto exchanges that list it. Below are the steps for purchasing it on the Bybit platform.

: Start by creating your free account on the Bybit trading platform. If you already have an account, proceed to the next step.

: Log into your crypto account and head to the 

, select the cryptocurrency you want to purchase — IOTX in this case.

: Enter the number of IOTX coins you wish to purchase, or the amount of money you’re willing to spend.

: Select the preferred service provider and payment method. Various options such as Visa, Mastercard and bank transfer are available.

: Confirm the transaction and wait for the IOTX coins to arrive in your account.

 coins. Once you’ve received the IOTX in your account, you can use it for trading. Bybit is a great option due to its simple and easy-to-navigate user interface. Whether you’re a seasoned trader or just starting out, its simplicity is sure to suit your needs.

Founded just over three years ago, the IoTeX blockchain has shown immense potential so far. Due to the network’s capabilities, we’re likely to see more IoT devices and DApps developed on its network, impacting the overall price of IOTX. 

It’s just the beginning for IOTX in the market, and the team at IoTeX has a long way to go. With announcements like MachineFi and solid products like UCam and Pebble, however, they appear to be on the right path.

Explained: What Is IoTeX (IOTX)?

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