Etsy CEO says company is escaping ‘race to the bottom’ and getting back to its artisan roots

Etsy is making policy changes as it faces pressure to compete with Amazon and emerging e-commerce players Temu and Shein.

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Evolve Bank says ransomware gang stole personal data on millions of customers

Evolve has confirmed that the personal data of at least 7.6 million people was accessed during LockBit attack
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Etsy adds AI-generated item guidelines in new seller policy 

Etsy has been grappling with an influx of generic “junk” and AI-generated products on its platform. The service revised its seller policy on Tuesday, introducing new labels that clarify whether a seller made, designed, sourced or handpicked an item. This marks the first time it has dealt directly with artificial intelligence in its seller policy, […]
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Best Dog Coins to Buy Now – Is Base Dawgz the Next to Explode?

Dog-themed meme coins are the best altcoins during this bear market, but which one should you buy for a chance at 20x returns?
Let’s talk about whether it’s the right time to invest in the crypto market. For those who have been hesitant, watching the market rise and fall over the past few weeks, this analysis should help.
The crypto market has been volatile lately, with Bitcoin moving sideways since March. It reached a high of $73,800, and if it breaks above this level, prices could soar to $80,000 or even $100,000.
This big movement is expected around September when the Federal Reserve in the U.S. might reduce interest rates. High interest rates make holding USD attractive, but a reduction will likely push money into the crypto market, leading to big gains.
Even with the market’s ups and downs, there are still great opportunities. Bitcoin’s price is moving between $60,000 and $71,000, and it’s currently at the lower end of this range, making it a good time to buy. But what should you invest in?
Dog-themed meme coins are currently very popular. Dogecoin, with a market cap of $15 billion, has been the star of this market. If you could go back in time and buy Dogecoin at its start, you’d have made big profits by now.
There are still chances to invest in newer coins. For example, DOG GO TO THE MOON launched in April and reached a $500 million market cap in less than a month and a half. However, the initial surge of DOG GO TO THE MOON might be over.
The next dog-themed meme coin expected to explode is Base Dawgz (DAWGZ).

Multi-chain meme coin raises $2.4 million now
Base Dawgz (DAWGZ) is a new dog-themed meme coin in its pre-sale phase. It has raised $2.4 million from an initial $300,000 in just over a month, showing strong interest and growth potential.
You have six days before the next price increase, with one $DAWGZ currently priced at $0.0061. Potential investors can visit our guide on how to buy Base Dawgz tokens here.
The multi-chain feature is Base Dawgz’s biggest strength. It isn’t just another cryptocurrency; it will run on five chains at the same time.
Base Dawgz will be available on Base, Ethereum, BSC, Solana, and Avalanche, giving you the flexibility to buy on your preferred chain. Designed for those who seek adventure and innovation, Base Dawgz promises a unique multi-chain experience.

Base $DAWGZ – a #memecoin inspired by base jumping and #ShibaInu memes. Currently in pre-sale, @BaseDawgz will live on #Coinbase’s base chain and trade across $ETH, $SOL, BSC, and AVAX. Head over and join in on the fun ⬇️🐩https://t.co/jAiw7eQFxX pic.twitter.com/gxRU81Ndxc
— Bitcoin.com News (@BTCTN) July 9, 2024

Bitcoin.com News X account announced that Base Dawgz is currently in presale. It will operate on Coinbase’s base chain and trade on $ETH, $SOL, BSC, and AVAX.
For peace of mind, the Base Dawgz smart contract has passed a full audit by Solid Proof, confirming there are no issues in its code. Stay updated with the latest news and developments by joining the Base Dawgz community on X and Telegram.
Base Dawgz (DAWGZ)- Staking and referral features
Base Dawgz (DAWGZ), a popular meme coin that started its presale a few weeks ago, teased on X recently about upcoming major news.
The announcement came the next day, on July 4, revealing the new staking system. Staking became available to all $DAWGZ holders immediately upon token purchase, allowing even early buyers to participate.
On its website, the project explained that staking requires $DAWGZ holders to lock their tokens into a smart contract for a fixed period. In return, they receive additional $DAWGZ tokens at a variable rate over time. Notably, staking was launched on Ethereum’s network, operating on ETH’s Layer 1 blockchain rather than Base’s own L2 chain.

In a positive move for $DAWGZ, investors can expect hourly distributions totaling 192,000 $DAWGZ tokens over the next year. This schedule allows for continuous compounding of holdings, maximizing potential gains each hour.
Distribution begins 24 hours after staking starts, ensuring all investors have an equal chance to lock in tokens and earn rewards. Retroactive rewards for presale buyers will be available soon.
Earlier, the project introduced a Refer-and-Earn feature, where community members can earn commissions by promoting the project on social media. This feature incentivizes holders to help grow the community.
This feature is now active, and you can generate a referral code on the project’s website by clicking the “refer and earn” button. If you successfully refer someone, you’ll get 10% of their presale investment in USDT after the IEO ends.
With a variety of unique utilities and functionalities, alongside a strategic launch on Base, Base Dawgz is well-positioned for success. To participate in the $DAWGZ token presale, visit basedawgz.com.
Related

Multi-Chain Dog Meme Coin Launches Staking Rewards for Early DAWGZ Investors, Fueling Presale Surge Past $2.3 Million
First Multi-Chain Meme Coin on Base Chain, Secures $2.2 Million in Presale

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Apex Legends Battle Pass undergoes a revamp and guess who’s better off? Spoiler, it’s not you

The concept of the Battle Pass has been embraced by many a gamer over the years but its insidious creep into the major organs of our bank accounts continues unabated.
Preying on gamers’ innate desire to chalk off progression things started simply enough – gain some XP, move up a level which would then give you an utterly worthless cosmetic such as a stripy gun, but, more deeply when you are waiting in a lobby, a means of comparing yourself to other players. Not that this was an accurate comparison because largely it was a sign of time played over skill, but it was a badge no less, and it would cost you a few dollars per “season” to do it again and again.
Fair enough to a point in games such as Apex Legends, which are free to jump into so throwing a bit back the devs way for the fun you were having seemed okay (for devs read Electronic Arts / Respawn).
Then, games that were full price started having a Battle Pass as well, so you’d be paying $70 for the game then effectively a Netflix-esque subscription every few weeks on top. Of course, only the most loyal players continue to buy them – if you dipped in and out it means nothing to the publishers. There did used to be a world where the loyal customers got rewarded, not fleeced, but that friends, is not the world we live in anymore.
Following this move now Battle Passes and cosmetics have made their way into the most pointless of areas – single-player games. You can’t even show off what you have got to anybody. Where is that shrugging emoji?
Amongst it all, though there was one light and one that Fortnite and Apex Legends kept lit because progressing far enough through a battle pass would generally award you enough free in-game currency to get the next one – a reward if you like.
Cue the realization in the board room when it dawned on the money men this was costing them cash and that brings us to today, where Apex Legends players are up in arms and threatening to boycott the hugely popular shooter because changes have been made that can only ever benefit the corporation behind it.
A traditional Apex Battle Pass used to cost 1,000 Apex Coins which would set you back $9.99/£8.99. Once you had bought one you would then earn coins throughout and generally at least have some towards the next one. LOOPHOLE the commercial guys shouted.
Now, going forward Apex will have TWO Battle Passes per season and you have to buy them both with real money. No more Apex coin farming. Get your cards out.

Starting with Season 22, we’re evolving the Apex Legends Battle Pass to improve your experience and progression goals.
Read on to learn everything to know about the upcoming changes or check out the infographic below to learn more.
: https://t.co/kg5NhlFfVq pic.twitter.com/i516ktP9ma
— Apex Legends (@PlayApex) July 8, 2024

“Starting with Season 22, we’re evolving the Apex Legends Battle Pass to improve your experience and progression goals.”
I have rewritten this sentence three times before settling on the more sedate. “Ooh, thanks.”
“We’ll get into it for those that love the details, but here’s the gist: shorter Battle Pass with one for each split, revamped rewards, and purchased with IRL currency with a new cost for Premium+,”
So shorter, and costs more, and I will finish it quicker and buy the second one. And they are really magic beans you say?
Seriously.
The fanbase and social media have reacted as you and I knew they would – this feels like something EA may end up backtracking on, but if they do why didn’t it envisage this, and if they don’t, well don’t be surprised because money men don’t care about the little guy.
Here are a few of the more publishable comments you can find out there:
“This is what happens when the user acquisition phase ends and the mask comes off. Happens to every business, mr nice guys until they hit their target audience numbers then they squeeze”
“Bringing more cosmetic rewards with a battlepass that’s only purchasable with actual money and not Apex coins isn’t going to pump up the player count, it’s just going to make EA more money. They don’t care if the game is improving via QoL, balance, or new additions.”
“So they are in full “milk the whales before the ship sinks” mode now? Guessed as much with those ridiculous death box cosmetics.”
“The whole nice thing about the Apex battle pass was that if you grinded it (which took forever btw) you got the next one free. Glad I stopped playing this game.”
It’s hard to see how this model keeps the causal player buying and is unlikely to be the end of this story. Grab the popcorn and watch this space.
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Republican party vows to end ‘crypto crackdown’

GOP organization Republican National Committee has unveiled a new platform that strongly supports crypto innovation, as revealed in a document released on Monday.
The document in question outlines the party’s priorities heading into the November election, with presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump and Republican congressional candidates at the forefront. The document reads:
Republicans will end Democrats’ unlawful and unAmerican Crypto crackdown and oppose the creation of a Central Bank Digital Currency. […] We will defend the right to mine Bitcoin (BTC), and ensure every American has the right to self-custody of their Digital Assets, and transact free from Government Surveillance and Control.
This stance reflects a growing interest in digital assets among Trump and other GOP politicians. Notably, Trump has shifted from his earlier skepticism of cryptocurrency to becoming a strong advocate.
GOP’s crypto endeavors
The presidential candidate has personal experience with digital assets, having launched his own branded non-fungible tokens (NFTs). Furthermore, Trump’s campaign and an affiliated political action committee now accept crypto donations.
While the committee’s top 20 policy “promises” don’t explicitly mention crypto, digital assets are addressed in the economy section under innovation initiatives. A key talking point for Trump and other Republican candidates in the 2024 campaign has been opposition to central bank digital currencies (CBDCs).
Republicans have criticized Democrats for allegedly pushing CBDCs that could enable greater financial surveillance of U.S. citizens. However, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and other officials maintain that a potential digital dollar would be managed by the banking system, not the government.
They also assert that such a currency would only be adopted with approval from Congress and the White House. This platform emerges as other jurisdictions, including China and Europe, are actively pursuing government-backed digital tokens, while the U.S. remains in the research phase regarding CBDCs.
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Develop Valuable Security and Risk Management Skills for Just $30 Through 7/21

With cyberthreats and cyberattacks always on the rise, developing security and risk management skills could be one of the best moves for your business or career.

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Nearly 10 Billion Passwords Leaked in Biggest Compilation of All Time

Nearly 10 billion passwords have been leaked on a popular hacking forum, according to Cybernews.

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With the latest iOS 18 developer beta, Apple makes flashlight UI more fun

Apple released the third developer beta version of iOS 18 on Monday. While there are no major new features like Apple Intelligence in this update, there are some neat design changes. But the new UI for the flashlight takes the cake. The company had already introduced a new way to control True Tone Flashlights on […]
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Ex-Googler joins filmmaker to launch DreamFlare, a studio for AI-generated video

A startup called DreamFlare AI is emerging from stealth on Tuesday with the goal of helping content creators make and monetize short-form AI-generated content. The company, co-founded by former Google employee Josh Liss and documentary filmmaker Rob Bralver, does not make or sell its own AI technology to create video. Rather, it’s envisioned as a […]
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