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

3.png

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

lombard tutorial.png

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

Intro to Santiment.png

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.

bybit spread trading.png

Bybit Spread Trading: Smart strategies for market swings

Bybit Learn

DeFi

web3

Affordable, secure and efficient, the blockchain protocol Loopring and its token LRC have been the talk of the (crypto town) recently. Find out why.

Loopring, a blockchain protocol which offers high levels of security in a decentralized format, aims to provide users with security and better performance while offering low fees and high speeds to facilitate trading, swapping, payments and the provision of liquidity. Supposedly, Loopring can perform over 2,000 

 … but is it really worth buying? Read this article to learn more about Loopring and its native token, LRC.

Loopring is built upon the highly secure 

, AKA the “hub” of the crypto market. The protocol was initially deployed in December 2019 on the Ethereum mainnet. 

, who is currently the CEO of Loopring Foundation. It aims to combine centralized order matching with decentralized on-blockchain order settlement into a hybridized product.

Typically, centralized crypto exchanges have more liquidity to offer, with multiple users buying and selling on-demand assets. Decentralized exchanges, on the other hand, tend to have lower liquidity levels as order matching doesn’t take place as quickly. Loopring combines the best of both worlds.

 (ICO) in August 2017, LRC is the Ethereum-based 

The Loopring platform is described as “open-sourced, audited, and noncustodial.” It offers users the ability to build noncustodial, order book-based exchanges on Ethereum by leveraging 

 proofs. LRC is necessary for key operations on the protocol, and it also helps to incentivize the correct use of the Loopring network. Exchange operators who deposit LRC can also have deposits confiscated by the protocol if the exchanges are operated poorly. These confiscated funds are then distributed to users who lock up LRC.

Loopring is a payment application that’s also known as “the world's first Ethereum smart wallet.” It’s managed by a smart contract, as opposed to a 

). Loopring integrates cutting-edge cryptography into its platform and ZK-Rollups, which are proposed ways to make the Ethereum blockchain more suitable for decentralized finance (

) applications. DeFi applications enable users to engage in crypto trading without using a centralized exchange.

Ethereum, the blockchain Loopring is built upon, is often plagued by slow speeds and high fees. To avoid congestion, Loopring integrates a data link layer (Layer 2, or L2) into its protocol. With L2, users can instantly send Ethereum or ERC20 tokens to any Ethereum address. The data link layer serves as a protocol which transfers data between 

 on a network segment across the physical layer. Loopring also checks their assets' security by choosing their trusted third party as the guardian. While using 

The Loopring protocol is dependent on ring miners to fulfill the given tasks. Ring miners and order rings help execute orders in exchange for rewards. Miners receive rewards in the form of traders’ fees or margins placed for orders.

LRC is used to pay fees on L2 zero-knowledge roll-ups (ZK-Rollups) while maintaining the blockchain's security. Apart from supporting both 

 (AMMs) and an order book exchange model, it also provides a payment system developed on the Loopring protocol. This trading platform lets users exchange digital assets such as 

The Loopring exchange platform authorizes protocols, creates orders, mixes and matches orders (ring mining), verifies orders, and processes settlement. LRC can be earned via ring mining. The protocol can match a maximum of 16 orders for various cryptocurrencies in a circular trade, called an order ring. Ring miners and order rings help execute orders in exchange for rewards. 

Nodes on the Loopring network are rewarded in LRC tokens that combine the individual orders into order rings to maintain public order books and trade history; and, in some cases, to broadcast orders to other relays. The Loopring relayer looks after the off-chain 

, creates roll-up blocks, and sends data to the Ethereum network.

Loopring combines elements from both centralized and decentralized cryptocurrency exchanges to create a protocol with a set of unique advantages that eliminates inefficiencies. It offers a 

 (DEX) which, instead of holding user funds in custody and processing trades internally, helps buy and sell orders that connect directly with each other and settles the trades on a public blockchain.

Loopring, a ZK-Rollup protocol, combines Ethereum smart contracts and zero-knowledge (ZK) circuits to make scalable and secure DEXs and automated market makers (

). The first protocol deployed on the Ethereum network was the ZK-Rollup, marking the beginning of the L2 scaling era. The Loopring protocol lets you build and run its ZK-Rollups and products.

ZK-Rollups have the advantage of operating on a known form of cryptography called 

. This technique lets a computer program claim data without sharing any identifying information. ZK-Rollups are also able to bundle hundreds of transfers into a single transaction. This enables fast and inexpensive trades to occur outside the Ethereum blockchain. Subsequently, these transactions are then settled on the blockchain itself, where zero-knowledge proofs are used to confirm the accuracy of 

To begin trading on Loopring, you need to send funds to a 

 managed by the Loopring protocol. Thereafter, the Loopring exchange moves the computation required to complete trades off of the main Ethereum blockchain, including information such as your order history and account balance. Loopring will then settle transactions on the Ethereum blockchain to finalize trades between users first matched off-chain. This technique results in reduced cost and increased speed for Loopring to reputedly perform over 2,000 

Each of these batches of transactions will then be added to the Ethereum blockchain with zero-knowledge proofs to allow anyone to reconstruct the transactions that have happened off-chain. By using this method, the transactions are confirmed as being genuine, and not tampered with by unauthorized parties.

 is $1.16, with a 24-hour trading volume of about $1 trillion. LRC has a live market cap of $1.5 trillion, a circulating supply of 1.33 billion LRC and a maximum supply of 1.37 billion LRC. The issuance of LRC tokens is governed by the smart contracts that make up the Loopring protocol.

. This rise was perceived as the market's reaction to a rumor of Loopring partnering with 

Loopring has an advantage over alternative blockchain protocols because of the novel cryptography it uses. This is of interest to investors who look for access to a wide range of projects built on the Ethereum blockchain, because they use decentralization for data management. This use of blockchain technology to theoretically hand control back to the user forms the basis of the Ethereum network. A DEX offers removal of the custodial and transparency risks, and Loopring increases the efficiency of order execution and enhances the liquidity of DEXs.

DEXs have problems that persist in performance and structural limitations. This can affect the extent to which LRC achieves widespread adoption. The effects of fragmented 

 can cause issues if DEXs don’t employ consistent standards to interoperate, and if orders aren’t shared/propagated across a wide network. 

Another disadvantage is that since blockchain order books are public, the transaction to place an order is visible by miners as it awaits being mined into the next block and placed into an order book. This could cause delay and expose the user to the risk of being 

 and having the price or execution move against them.

Cryptocurrencies can be considered high-risk assets due to their 

. However, Loopring looks like a promising project because it’s constantly being developed and updated. According to 

, LRC’s price is expected to reach $5.20 by November 2022, $8.19 by November 2025, and $16.47 by November 2028. (

 Before investing in LRC, please do your research and familiarize yourself with the risks involved.)

 such as Bybit. After creating an account on these exchanges, you can buy LRC using payment methods such as credit or debit card. On Bybit, LRC cannot be acquired directly — you will need to purchase 

Loopring’s price fluctuates tremendously, with the number of miners involved playing a major role in the amount of profit generated. The hardware most suitable for 

 is the application-specific integrated circuit (

). An ASIC miner is a hardware device that uses microprocessors for mining digital currency. If mining for LRC is done through a computer, a GPU won't generate a large turnout. Mining difficulty increases with growth in the number of miners, and an increase in demand for a larger 

, which refers to the amount of computing power provided for mining new blocks.

Backed by a vast community, the Loopring protocol is constantly evolving and deploying new features. For a crypto space struggling with high transaction fees and low scaling rates, the Loopring protocol has the potential to radically transform the way future DEXs are developed … and we’re here for the ride.

Loopring (LRC): A Beginner's Guide

Compete for 2,500 USDT Every Week

Earn Points by Completing Tasks

Event Rules

Register now and get 10 points

Write/Reply Comments (0/5)

Publish an Article (0/5)

Share an Article on Social Media (0/5)

Like an Article (0/5)

Read an Article (0/5)

Weekly Leaderboard