Ethena Labs has launched USDtb, a new stablecoin backed by BlackRock’s USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL) in partnership with Securitize. 

Daily Top Performer — Eigenlayer (EIGEN)

The S&P 500 rose 0.38% as investors await the Fed's rate decision and 2025 outlook. Coindesk Indices, an index measuring broader cryptocurrency market performance was down by 3.87%, with Bitcoin and Ether rising by 2.69% and 5.02%, respectively in the past 24 hours.

Today's top performer is EIGEN, which surged 11.2% after the Eigen Foundation pledged 1% of the EIGEN supply to support the Protocol Guild.

EigenLayer (EIGEN), founded in 2021, is an Ethereum-based protocol that allows ETH stakers to restake ETH and Liquid Staking Tokens (LSTs) to boost security for other protocols, earning extra rewards while providing access to Ethereum's validator network. The Eigen Foundation has 

 1% of its EIGEN supply to support the Protocol Guild, a key funding mechanism for Ethereum’s core Layer 1 R&D. This pledge, which was mentioned in the Season 2 stakedrop blog post, aims to ensure ongoing funding for Ethereum maintainers and contribute to the network's decentralized growth and sustainability.

Check Out the Latest Prices, Charts, and Data of 

, a new stablecoin backed by BlackRock’s USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund (BUIDL) in partnership with Securitize. USDtb’s reserves are primarily invested in BUIDL, with 90% of its backing allocated to it. The stablecoin aims to provide a scalable and differentiated option compared to existing stablecoins, with the potential to mitigate risks for Ethena’s USDe token. USDtb can also be used as margin collateral on exchanges and is being considered for Spark’s $1bn Tokenization Grand Prix. It has passed multiple audits and supports seamless cross-chain transfers via LayerZero.

Yesterday, BTC Spot ETF saw total flows of $218.7M, with $17.6M from GBTC and $201.1M from non-GBTC.

 token on December 17 as an ERC-20 utility token with a total supply of 1 billion. The token will power its gaming metaverse, offering staking rewards, exclusive in-game resources, consumables, and governance rights. ISLAND will primarily be distributed to the community (40.1%), including play-to-airdrop participants, ecosystem incentives, and rewards pools. Investors, advisors, and the team have long-term token locks, while a small portion supports exchange liquidity and the project treasury. Users can claim ISLAND on the Nifty Island website and benefit from staking for enhanced gameplay rewards and platform advantages.

Beginner

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Ethena Labs Launches USDtb Stablecoin Backed by BlackRock’s BUIDL Fund

Learn about GigaChad (GIGA), a Solana-based meme coin inspired by the iconic GigaChad meme, and the unique and cult-like community that developed around the meme coin.

What began as an internet meme celebrating the "ultimate alpha male" has evolved into a rising star in the 

 market. GigaChad (GIGA), inspired by the iconic 

, has taken the Solana ecosystem by storm, inspiring a viral culture to create a unique community-driven meme coin.

GIGA showcases how meme coins can unite online communities while offering new investment opportunities. This article delves into GigaChad’s rise, exploring the origin of the GigaChad meme, the vibrant community behind it, the coin’s market performance and what users should know before trading GIGA on Bybit.

Solana has emerged as a hub for meme coins this year, due to its low transaction fees and fast network speed. Coins like 

 have captured the imagination of communities, propelling these meme coins to billions of dollars in 

. Amid this scene, GIGA has entered the fray, promising to combine the meme’s cultural significance with blockchain innovation.

The Origins of GigaChad: From ‘Just a Meme’ to Crypto Icon

GigaChad’s journey began in 2017 with Russian photographer Krista Sudmalis’s 

 art project. This series featured hyper-stylized portraits of ultra-masculine models, celebrating exaggerated ideals of male perfection. Among these models, images of one stood out — Ernest Khalimov (Instagram: berlin.1969). The images portrayed an impossibly chiseled jawline, symmetrical features and a larger-than-life physique, earning the likeness the nickname “GigaChad,” a moniker that would soon take on a life of its own.

 forum, where it immediately caught attention. A day later, 4chan’s /pol/ board crowned images of Khalimov “GigaChad, the perfect human specimen destined to lead humanity against reptilians.” The absurdity of this statement, combined with Khalimov’s unreal appearance, fueled an internet legend. Indeed, Khalimov’s identity has been impossible to prove, with some sources asserting that his likeness 

By 2018, GigaChad memes had gone viral, appearing across platforms like Reddit, Imgur and Instagram. The Khalimov likeness, verifiable or not, had become a symbol of unattainable masculinity: equal parts inspiration and intimidation. In 2021, his fame soared again with the viral 

 meme, set to the haunting sounds of Bring Me the Horizon’s “Can You Feel My Heart.”

By 2024, GigaChad’s legend had transcended internet culture. On June 28, 2024, National GigaChad Day, the Solana-based meme coin GIGA launched, cementing the icon’s crypto status. Blending fitness, finance and meme culture, GigaChad is now a modern archetype — a reminder to strive for greatness, whether through effort or editing software.

Fast forward to today: the GIGA meme coin has 

 into a symbol of confidence, ambition and humor on crypto Twitter. This archetype has resonated deeply, inspiring enthusiasts and investors to rally around ideals of strength and unity. GigaChad’s cultural relevance extends beyond humor, influencing projects that leverage its appeal to foster collective identity and drive engagement.

The GigaChad community embodies its meme’s larger-than-life persona, radiating confidence and a no-nonsense attitude. Just as the GigaChad meme symbolizes a conception of ideal masculinity, the community represents resilience and bullish optimism.

, a seasoned investor, have openly expressed their confidence in GIGA’s potential, dubbing it the next big meme coin on Solana. This vocal backing has sparked a surge in interest, drawing both retail traders and crypto degens into the fold.

The community’s strength lies in its unified vision, using the GigaChad archetype as a rallying cry for innovation and market dominance. This combination of viral meme culture and solid investor base positions GIGA as a standout contender in the competitive market of Solana meme coins.

As of Dec 16, 2024, GIGA is trading at $0.0705, with a market cap of $657 million and a 24-hour trading volume of $19.9 million. The coin has experienced a 21.87% surge in the past seven days, following the announcement of new partnerships, as well as increased social media buzz. GIGA reached an all-time high of $0.08016 on December 13, showcasing its potential for sharp price movements.

The market seems optimistic about GIGA’s long-term growth potential, citing its vibrant community and the increasing popularity of meme coins on Solana.

Investing in meme coins such as GIGA carries inherent risks. Their pronounced volatility can lead to rapid price surges as well as steep corrections, leaving unprepared investors vulnerable. Additionally, the speculative nature of meme coins makes them more susceptible to market sentiment and external influences.

All in all, potential investors should approach with caution, conducting 

 and avoiding overexposure. Diversifying portfolios and understanding market trends are key to successfully navigating these high-risk investments.

With its vibrant community and strong market performance, GIGA could be a major meme coin player in the current crypto market. Users can now trade GIGA on Bybit, as the GigaChad (GIGA) Perpetual contract 

 in Bybit’s Innovation Zone, where leverage and advanced trading options allow you to maximize opportunities.

Intermediate

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GigaChad: The Alpha Meme Coin Cult

Pudgy Penguins recently announced the launch of its native token, PENGU, based on the Solana blockchain. Learn about the claim eligibility and tokenomics of PENGU.

 (NFT) collection launched in the previous crypto bull market, has since established itself as a leading NFT collection.

The project recently announced the launch of its native token, PENGU, based on the Solana blockchain. In this article, we look at who’s eligible to claim PENGU, the tokenomics of PENGU and upcoming plans of the Ethereum-based NFT collection.

 launched in July 2021, consisting of 8,888 unique and cute Penguins NFTs. Each penguin was generated from 150 hand-drawn components. It quickly carved out a name as an NFT collection known for its adorable artwork.

At the peak of the NFT mania in 2022, Pudgy Penguin #6873 sold for 400 ETH (a price tag of $640,000 at that time). As of mid-December 2024, the 

 has a total market cap of around 299,517 ETH, currently worth over $1.19 billion. Its floor price has risen by 230% in the past month, reaching 33.70 ETH, or around $133,768.

In recent years, the Pudgy brand has aggressively expanded into the physical goods space with Pudgy Toys, a line of collectible igloos, plushies and figures inspired by the NFT artwork. These toys have become a major source for revenue, generating over $10 million in sales through partnerships with major retailers like Walmart, Target and Walgreens.

Pudgy Penguins has a thriving community centered around its holders. Despite the recent NFT bear market, the Pudgy community, known as 

, has remained strong and active. The brand has a large online presence, with over 2 million followers on Instagram, 214,000 followers on X and 60,000 members on Discord. 

Pudgy Penguins’ ecosystem has since expanded beyond just its original 8,888-piece collections, and now includes the Pudgy Penguins NFT collection, 

 collections, Pudgy Toys, the Igloo clothing line and Abstract Chain, a new 

The project was originally launched in July 2021 by multiple pseudonymous founders including ColeThereum (Cole Villemain), Mr. Tubby (Clayton Patterson), Mickyj and Jonah. However, after its initial launch, the project suffered several months of underwhelming performance. Coupled with allegations that the initial founders had stolen funds meant for the project’s development, the founders were removed by the community and the project was put up for auction. After a bidding war, Pudgy Penguins was purchased by Luca Schnetzler, also known as Luca Netz, for 750 ETH in April 2022.

Netz was instrumental in expanding the Pudgy Penguins brand beyond the 

 space with toys and clothing lines. Several new members were also brought in to manage the brand, 

 Lorenzo Melendez as President, Austin as Head of Marketing, Peter Lobanov as CCO, Jennifer McGlone as CLO and Vedant as Head of Strategy. 

 the launch of a new token, PENGU, to be based on the Solana blockchain. PENGU is designed to deepen the community’s alignment with the Pudgy Penguins brand, serving as a gateway for new enthusiasts to become part of the community. The PENGU token seeks to enhance the Pudgy Penguins ecosystem by offering various use cases within the community. 

While the specific use case hasn’t been announced, it’s expected that PENGU will act as Pudgy Penguins’ 

PENGU has a total supply of 88,888,888,888 tokens and is being distributed to different stakeholders in a way that ensures long-term success for the project.

PENGU is set to officially launch on Solana in December 2024. Eligible participants have 88 days to claim the 

The PENGU token launch has quickly become the most anticipated crypto airdrop for December 2024. Once it goes live, the token is expected to be listed on several major exchanges, making the Pudgy Penguins ecosystem accessible to a much wider investor base.

PENGU tokens will be airdropped to several communities and user bases. The greatest beneficiaries will be holders of Pudgy Penguins and Lil Pudgy NFTs, who will receive 25.9% of the supply. Details on how to claim the airdrop haven’t yet been made public, but interested users can follow Pudgy Penguins’ 

One of the biggest impacts of the PENGU token announcement has been the price of Pudgy Penguins NFTs. The floor price has shot up nearly 70% since the announcement on Dec 6, 2024, reaching a high of 34.8 ETH on December 16, or over $137K. 

Several other NFT collections have also seen an increase in their floor prices, gaining over 50% in the past month, as the total market cap of the NFT sector has 

Whether this bullish momentum can be sustained or not has yet to be seen, but the PENGU token could potentially revitalize the NFT sector and bring interest back to the NFT market.

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PENGU: Dive Into Pudgy Penguins’ Upcoming Token

Bybit Puzzle Hunt is a rewards campaign in which participants collect digital puzzle pieces through trading, deposits and daily activities to win prizes.

Bybit Puzzle Hunt has arrived, transforming everyday crypto trading into an exciting treasure hunt with a huge prize pool at stake. Participants in this innovative campaign can collect digital puzzle pieces through trading activities to win guaranteed rewards.

In this guide, we'll explore the essential steps to participate in Puzzle Hunt, reveal the best strategies for collecting pieces and show you how to maximize your chances of winning valuable token rewards from the prize pool.

 is a rewards campaign in which participants collect digital puzzle pieces through trading, deposits and daily activities to win prizes from massive prize pools. This rewards campaign features different events with various prize pools for you to choose from.

There are a total of three ongoing events:

Following is a detailed breakdown of Puzzle Hunt’s operation and reward mechanics.

Users can collect puzzle pieces through platform activities, such as completing daily check-ins, making deposits and engaging in Spot trading. Each completed task rewards you with puzzle pieces. 

For trading and deposits, rewards are calculated cumulatively. In Spot trading, for example, reaching $200 in volume earns you one piece, $500 earns two pieces and $1,000 earns three. You'll receive all three pieces at once if you achieve $1,000 in trading volume right away.

When you receive duplicate puzzle pieces, you can gift them to other participants. This feature encourages collaboration, allowing users to help each other complete their puzzles faster by exchanging extra pieces they don't need.

Qualify for the lucky draw by completing three consecutive puzzle pieces in any direction (horizontal, vertical or diagonal). With a 100% win rate, every participant is guaranteed to receive rewards from the prize pool. Participants can earn up to three chances in the lucky draw, increasing their opportunity to win bigger prizes.

Complete the entire puzzle and you'll be eligible for the grand prize of 100 USDT per event. This reward is available to the first 500 participants who complete the puzzle.

All puzzle pieces are distributed randomly across different tasks. This randomization adds strategy to the hunt, as you may need to combine various activities and social exchanges to complete your puzzle efficiently.

Bybit Puzzle Hunt offers a range of attractive benefits for participants.

Bybit Puzzle Hunt creates an engaging experience that benefits both casual and active traders. The event's structure ensures that everyone has a fair chance at winning, while encouraging community interaction and regular platform engagement.

 and log into your Bybit account, or if you're new to Bybit, 

 for a free account. Then, ensure your account meets the following eligibility requirements:

: From the available coins, click on the coin’s corresponding 

: Complete daily check-ins on the platform to earn regular piece rewards.

: Make qualifying deposits to your Bybit account. Only net deposits after registration will be counted.

: Engage in Spot trading to earn additional pieces. Trading volumes are calculated cumulatively — $200 earns one piece, $500 earns two pieces and $1,000 earns three.

: Refer friends and multiply your earning opportunities through the referral program.

: Check your puzzle piece inventory for any duplicate pieces.

: Select the duplicate piece you wish to share from your collection.

: Enter your friend's Bybit UID to complete the transfer. Gifted pieces will be automatically added to your friend's collection.

: Monitor your puzzle completion progress in your account dashboard.

: Complete three consecutive pieces in any direction (horizontal, vertical or diagonal) to qualify for the lucky draw.

 regularly for distributed prizes. The 100 USDT grand prize must be claimed manually within five working days after the event concludes.

 to users from specific regions, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and others. Only Main Accounts with completed Identity Verification Lv. 1 are eligible. Institutional users, Market Makers and Affiliates are not eligible for this event.

Love earning rewards while trading? Bybit Puzzle Hunt transforms your regular activities into winning opportunities. Everyone who completes three consecutive puzzle pieces is guaranteed a reward, with up to three chances to win from the random lucky draw.

For traders who enjoy gamified experiences and community interaction, Puzzle Hunt provides a fresh approach to earning rewards. Whether completing daily tasks, trading or exchanging puzzle pieces with friends, each activity brings you closer to potential prizes and the 100 USDT grand prize.

Bybit Puzzle Hunt offers a fresh take on crypto trading rewards. With a gamified approach that combines daily activities, trading and social interaction, everyone can win from huge prize pools. Whether you're an active trader or casual user, each puzzle piece collected means more chances of lucky draw prizes and the 100 USDT grand prize.

bybit puzzle hunt.png

Bybit Puzzle Hunt: Collect Puzzle Pieces & Unlock Big Rewards

Bybit Learn

web3

Blockchain

Heard about the new crypto phones like Solana's Saga and Nothing (1)? Here's what you need to know about what these phones are doing for the crypto industry.

Most individuals are practically inseparable from their smartphones and take them wherever they go. Having a mini-computer in your pocket with the ability to stay connected has become the norm.

As crypto enthusiasts search for ways to mainstream cryptocurrencies, crypto phones offer an exciting gateway to 

 and blockchain technology. Web 3.0 is the next generation of the internet that uses blockchain technology as a foundation, enabling secure and affordable transfers of value over networks.

In this article, we’ll explore what crypto phones are, including their history and early launches, as well as promising recent projects. We’ll also explore some of the key features that make these products exciting.

Crypto phones offer a variety of features that make it easier for users to store and use their cryptocurrencies. This innovation aspires to bridge the gap between web3 and the masses. 

Taiwanese smartphone giant HTC ushered in this new era with the launch of the first crypto phone, the 

, in October 2018. This genesis model featured a crypto hardware wallet and could run a full Bitcoin node, among other capabilities.

 launched the “first open-source, ultra-secure blockchain smartphone,” 

. These new-generation devices showed the tech world the possibilities at the intersection of mobile and blockchain technology.

Since then, several smartphone makers have forayed into this nascent market with their own iterations of these cutting-edge devices of varying capabilities and price points.

Unlike your regular smartphone, crypto phones are designed to offer cryptocurrency and blockchain functionalities in addition to their regular features. For crypto enthusiasts, crypto phones are an easily accessible portal to the decentralized web, popularized as web3. The web3 ecosystem consists of blockchain-based apps that look like regular mobile apps but are not owned or controlled by massive tech corporations (in other words, centralized). 

Crypto phone makers believe that the popularity of smartphones and any consumer dependence on them will be an ideal platform to make web3 mainstream.

Here are a few key benefits of trying crypto phones:

Since their introduction in 2018, crypto phones have failed to take off as expected. However, new projects like Polygon’s Nothing have reignited interest in crypto phones. Here are a few of the new kids on the block that are making waves. 

The Polygon network is making its debut in the crypto phone market with the spectacularly designed mid-range 

. Partnering with phone maker Nothing, the Ethereum scaling solution hopes to bring web3 to the wider smartphone audience.

Nothing Phone (1) offers features to help users seamlessly access DApps and games on the Polygon network. It also adds crypto secure storage and payment functionalities and uses the Polygon ID, a new blockchain-based identification system that uses zero-knowledge cryptography. The Polygon ID is a decentralized and self-owned identification system that allows users to verify their identity without having to entrust their data to big tech companies where it could be compromised by third parties.

The Nothing Phone (1) will airdrop non-fungible tokens (NFTs) titled “Black Dot” to reward its community of investors. NFT owners will enjoy benefits such as early access to products and event entries.

Even with its eye-catching iPhone-like looks, reasonable specs and Polygon-powered web3 integration, the Nothing Phone (1) has a decent price tag of about $479.

If there’s one device that’s brought back the crypto phone and blockchain tech hype, it’s the Solana Saga. As a crypto phone under development by Solana Labs 

 the Solana Saga boasts features that set it apart from mainstream smartphones. 

The device features a “seed vault” to store private keys, Solana Pay for QR code payment, a mobile wallet adapter, and a DApp store.

Additionally, the Saga also includes the Solana Mobile Stack (SMS), a web3 software development kit. The SMS will enable developers to build extra features to further enhance the web3 experience for Saga users.

Solana Saga will rely heavily on the Solana Blockchain for its web3 functionality. The phone’s makers hope that the Saga will ride the popularity of the mobile phone to spread mass adoption of crypto and blockchain. 

The Solana Saga will start shipping in Q1 of 2023 at a cost of about $1,000. 

After kick-starting the crypto phone era with the launch of the Exodus 1 model in 2018, HTC is back again with yet another crypto smartphone. This time, the new device promises to offer an immersive metaverse experience through its proprietary Viverse Ecosystem.

 is an Android-powered mid-range crypto phone that hopes to lure users with its affordability and VR functionality. Users can stream content directly to the VIVE Flow headset to hook up to the VIVERSE platform, a metaverse that’s built on AI, VR and blockchain technology. 

In addition to a rich metaverse experience, the HTC Desire 22 Pro features secure Vive wallets to store digital assets such as NFTs and cryptocurrencies, and the Vive market, where users can spend their crypto

The phone started shipping on August 1, 2022 at a retail price of about $400.

What Happened to 2019's Blockchain Phones?

Manufacturers of crypto phones hoped that these devices would usher in the next era of mobile connectivity and portability with integrated blockchain technology. Their success has varied, with the phones created by large existing phone brands generally having more staying power. 

Sirin Labs was one of the initial companies to announce a blockchain phone, naming it after the late cryptographer and Bitcoin pioneer, Hal Finney. It runs on Sirin OS, a Google-certified modification of Android with cyber protection, a wallet, a DApp store and token conversion. Users can independently verify wallet transactions via a unique sliding Safe Screen that activates its cold storage wallet.

 of the Finney were lower than expected, and Sirin Labs had to lay off a quarter of its workforce. The chief executive of Sirin Labs was actually sued by phone manufacturer Foxconn International Holdings Ltd. for unpaid bills related to manufacturing Finney phones. The Finney phone remains for sale online.

The most affordable crypto phone by far, the 

 is designed for people in emerging economies. The phone is priced at $80 and can mine crypto, even in offline mode. Despite the low price tag, it comes with 4G connectivity, dual sims and 8GB storage, as well as front- and rear-facing cameras. Launched by UK-based digital payments firm Electroneum, the M1 uses the firm’s cloud mining technology.

The phone targets people in developing countries with low incomes by literally offering a phone that can pay them back. It’s possible to earn up to $3 a month in ETN tokens. Electroneum partnered with mobile network operator Cellcard in Cambodia, and managed to 

 of the Electroneum M1 provided in two hours.

Samsung started selling the blockchain-enabled KlaytnPhone in 2019. It was developed with Ground X, which launched the Klaytn blockchain and is a subsidiary of the popular Korean messaging app Kakao. As the world’s largest smartphone manufacturer, Samsung was a widely recognized brand entering the crypto phone market. Kakao is South Korea’s most popular instant messenger, which also gave the partnership a solid reputation in South Korea.

The phone looks similar to a regular Galaxy Note 10, but it shows the Klaytn logo, comes with free KLAY tokens and has a cryptocurrency wallet, as well as embedded blockchain apps. The 

 (blockchain application) partner program brought in developers such as mobile game firms, mainly because gaming commands a huge market in South Korea.

In 2018, Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC revealed plans for the flagship Exodus 1 phone, which could double as a crypto hardware wallet. To safeguard customer cryptocurrency, SoftBank Group's Arm Holdings designed a separate micro-operating system that runs parallel with Android. It could also mine Monero coins by 2020.

 had a 16 megapixel dual main camera, a six-inch display with quad-HD+ resolution, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor, six gigabytes of RAM and 128GB of storage. HTC even teamed up with Binance to release a limited edition version of the Exodus 1 phone.

HTC Chief decentralized Officer Phil Chen reported that Exodus 1 sales met company expectations, and released subsequent versions such as the HTC Exodus 1s, which became the first-ever smartphone able to run a full Bitcoin node.

Buying a crypto phone is an important purchasing decision, given the amount of use mobile phones get. The chief considerations include the phone’s functionality and price tag, as well as its crypto features. Standard phone functionalities aren’t likely to exceed those of existing smartphones on the market. However, the key crypto support features that may tip the scales include security, built-in cryptocurrency wallets and mining capabilities.

Buying a crypto phone may help you secure your cryptocurrency, make it more accessible to use and even help you earn crypto on the go. 

 expect blockchain technology to contribute as much as $1 billion to the telecommunications sector in the next five years. This probably doesn’t come as a surprise, given the interest blockchain technology has generated. The rise of the crypto phone could add to mass adoption and allow crypto wallet ownership to go mainstream.

With decentralization being a prime boon of crypto phones, it’s unsurprising to see mainstream smartphone owners being lured to crypto phones because of their strong focus on security and privacy. As the best crypto phones will bring Web 3.0 applications to users’ attention, this may certainly be one way that crypto projects will reach a wider, more mainstream audience. 

As the cryptocurrency and blockchain industries continue to grow, it’s likely that we’ll see more crypto phones on the market. These phones will probably have even more advanced features and functionality as they aim to meet the needs of an increasingly digital world.

How Crypto Phones Are Popularizing Web 3.0 & Blockchain Tech

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards