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The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has issued a warning about the high concentration of trading activity on a limited number of cryptocurrency exchanges.
According to the regulator’s analysis, a single platform, Binance, controls roughly half of the entire market, while just 10 exchanges handle about 90% of all cryptocurrency trades.
The ESMA’s report, released on Wednesday, also highlighted significant variations in market liquidity, with larger exchanges typically exhibiting higher levels of liquidity. While this concentration may offer efficiency benefits due to economies of scale, the regulator expressed considerable concerns about the potential implications of a failure or malfunction at a major asset or exchange for the wider crypto ecosystem.
The ESMA’s examination of the fiat currencies used within the crypto market revealed a strong dependence on the US dollar and the South Korean won, with the Euro playing a comparatively minor role, accounting for only about 10% of transactions. The regulator noted that the Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) regulation has not yet resulted in any observable increase in the use of the Euro within the cryptocurrency market. However, the ESMA expects that MiCA could potentially catalyze growth upon its implementation in 2024, given its focus on strengthening investor protection within the market.
“Crypto not a safe haven”
The regulator also challenged the notion of crypto assets serving as a safe haven during periods of broader market distress. The report identified a degree of co-movement between crypto assets and equities, while also highlighting the absence of a consistent relationship with gold, a traditionally recognized safe-haven asset.
The ESMA emphasized the inherent opacity of crypto transactions, which makes it challenging to pinpoint their origin. However, a significant portion of crypto exchanges are found to be situated in jurisdictions characterized as tax havens. According to the regulator, roughly 55% of transactions are conducted on crypto exchanges licensed under the EU’s VASP framework, although a substantial proportion of these transactions likely occur outside the European Union.
The report also found that despite an increase in the number of actively traded crypto assets since 2020, the market remains highly concentrated. As of December 2023, just three cryptocurrencies – Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), and the stablecoin Tether (USDT) – comprise a substantial 74% of the total market capitalization and 55% of the annual trading volume.
The report follows Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s recent prediction that the total market capitalization of the crypto industry could double to $5 trillion by the end of 2023. In March, Bitcoin hit a new all-time high, surpassing $71,000 for the first time, following the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority’s approval of cryptocurrency exchange-traded products.
The upward trend gained momentum in January when the US securities regulator approved spot Bitcoin ETFs, a catalyst for the cryptocurrency’s value, which breached $70,000 last week. Ethereum also crossed the $4,000 mark on Monday.
Featured image: Ideogram
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Microsoft has shown off a new test interface for Xbox Cloud Gaming that mimics the dashboard interface of a console.
Xbox Party Chat will now be available via the browser-based client as opposed to using a standalone application to speak with friends, reports The Verge.

Xbox Cloud Gaming updates
In a short video from The Verge’s Tom Warren, the new interface’s features are explored and touch on some of the hiccups that came with existing parties and games being played.
Ending a gaming session on one title will not end the Xbox Party Chat through the interface. Players can continue to chat with friends even when they stop playing one title and jump into another.
Warren has estimated that the interface will feature on virtual reality headsets and possibly smart TVs in time. There is no official line on this from Microsoft, but it would make sense.
Xbox Wire also released information for PC gamers that the Xbox Game Hub is now available to players.
Alex Charters, Senior Product Manager, Xbox Experiences reported the changes coming to the Game Hub. He said “Today, we’re excited to share that all PC players can now enjoy game hubs inside the Xbox app on PC. Navigate to any game in your library or in the sidebar to track your progress, discover the latest content and add-ons, connect and compete with your friends, and get the latest news from developers.”
Charters would also mention the April updates coming to Xbox consoles. There will be a new soundbar muting option and a One Drive notification when uploading gaming clips about storage space running low.
The Senior Product Manager also mentioned “guest pins” to set limitations on app and game installations on a shared console. Charters stated “You can enable access restrictions with a “guest pin” and disable these new controls when a game or app install or uninstall happens. Your guest will be prompted for the “guest pin” to complete the activity. To view and adjust the new options, navigate to Settings > System > Access restrictions.”
Microsoft is continuing to evolve the console and PC offerings that Game Pass subscribers benefit from. As we reported the gaming giant rolled out a new console collaboration tool in a late February update and sightings of a diskless Xbox Series X have been doing the rounds as of last month.
Image: Xbox.
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Vampire Survivors, the wildly replayable bullet-hell roguelite that launched in the fall of 2022, will come to PlayStation 4 and PS5 this summer, the developer announced on Wednesday during indie gaming’s Triple-I initiative. Meantime, the game will get its second crossover DLC at the beginning of May, bringing in Konami’s Contra for a mission called Operation Guns.

Operation Guns will bring in Contra’s Bill and Lance to help manage the undead infestation with an array of powered-up guns. In the game trailer released on Wednesday, the original game’s essential spread-fire and tricky laser rifle are on display, inflicting some bullet-hell pain on the horde.
There are dozens of weapons (and their evolutions) in Vampire Survivors, but if we’re not mistaken, this is the first time firearms will be used in the game. What better pair to introduce them than the heroes of Konami’s classic side-scroller, which in 1988 introduced the fabled Konami Code to a generation of Nintendo Entertainment System fans.
When does Vampire Survivors launch on PlayStation?
The PlayStation launch does not have a date more specific than summer; when it does arrive, that will mean that Vampire Survivors is finally available on all current platforms. It first launched on PC in October 2022, with launches following on Xbox, mobile, and Nintendo Switch over the next year.
Developer and publisher Luca “poncle” Galante says the PlayStation version will be fully updated, with all four DLC expansions available to purchase. The base game ranges from $3.99 on PC to $4.99 on console marketplaces.
Operation Guns will cost $2.49, the same as Vampire Survivors’ first crossover with another game Emergency Meeting, a collaboration with Innersloth’s Among Us that launched in December. Most recently, Riot Games announced a crossover with Vampire Survivors was coming to League of Legends, also sometime this summer.
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In an astonishing revelation, BlockDAG‘s unprecedented 20,000x ROI potential has notably overshadowed Cardano’s price forecast and IOTA’s technological strides in the first quarter OF 2024. As the crypto community reels from this news, the spotlight turns to BlockDAG, whose impressive presale success and innovative EVM compatibility have set a new benchmark in the DeFi sector. 
While Cardano has been making waves with its robust development activities and IOTA with its groundbreaking EVM integration, BlockDAG’s emergence is reshaping investor perspectives and reallocating the market’s focus. This shift not only underscores BlockDAG’s dominant market entry but also highlights the intense competition and rapid evolution within the cryptocurrency landscape. Investors and enthusiasts are now keenly watching BlockDAG as its strategic advancements promise to redefine the boundaries of digital finance and investment in the rapidly evolving world of blockchain technology.

Cardano’s Developmental Milestones and Price Implications
Cardano’s blockchain innovation is leading the charge, evidenced by an impressive array of GitHub commits that highlight a strong development trajectory. This steadfast commitment to growth and enhancement fosters a positive outlook for its market valuation, fueling speculation that ADA might ascend to the $10 mark. Such anticipations are rooted in the observed correlation between Cardano’s developmental enthusiasm and its market performance, emphasizing the vital impact of relentless innovation on the cryptocurrency’s future prospects. This dynamic interplay between Cardano’s technical advancements and its potential market value not only showcases the importance of ongoing improvement but also positions Cardano as a key player in shaping the future landscape of digital assets.
IOTA’s Strategic Technological Leap with EVM
After a successful audit, IOTA’s introduction of the EVM L2 signifies a critical advancement in embracing state-of-the-art technology, thereby augmenting its network’s functionalities. This development is further bolstered by an endorsement from the UAE Ministry of Economy, coupled with significant funding, reinforcing IOTA’s role as a catalyst for technological progress on both local and global scales.
Such a move reaffirms IOTA’s dedication to pioneering innovations and highlights its capacity to extend its technological impact across the industry. This milestone reflects IOTA’s ambitious vision to stay at the forefront of blockchain innovation, promising to expand its influence and shape the future trajectory of the technological landscape in the digital economy.

BlockDAG: Redefining DeFi with Stellar Performance
BlockDAG’s introduction has caused a stir in the DeFi space, securing a substantial $15.8M and setting a high bar with its 20,000% ROI potential. Due to its adoption of DAG technology, its rapid transaction speeds, ranging from 10,000 to 15,000 TPS, outperform traditional blockchain technologies. This not only enhances transaction efficiency but also ensures scalability and security.
Moreover, BlockDAG’s EVM compatibility facilitates the seamless integration of Ethereum-based smart contracts, promoting a dynamic and collaborative development ecosystem. This strategic positioning promises to reshape the DeFi landscape, offering a scalable and efficient solution for the future of digital finance.

The Last Call: Invest in BlockDAG Now
While Cardano and IOTA demonstrate commendable advancements, BlockDAG emerges as a powerhouse in the DeFi sector, which is distinguished by its lucrative presale success, EVM compatibility, and groundbreaking ROI potential. As BlockDAG is set to conclude its batch 8 sale, it presents an enticing investment opportunity, positioning itself as a leader in the drive toward a decentralized financial future.
Join the revolutionary journey with BlockDAG, a beacon in the DeFi world, offering unmatched ROI potential and a vision for a more decentralized financial ecosystem.

Invest In BlockDAG 
Website: https://blockdag.network
Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network
Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu
The post Findings Reveal BlockDAG’s 20,000x ROI Impeded Cardano’s Price Forecast & IOTA’s Technological Advancements in Q1 appeared first on ReadWrite.

The developers of the mobile monster-catching game Pokémon Go, Niantic have teased the incoming arrival of a space-based addition to the ranks. Necrozma has been touted by the mobile game studio ahead of the summer 2024 event taking place across the world.
In a recent post on the Pokémon Go website, the studio announced a warning and a shadowy glimpse of the title’s new prismatic pocket monster.
“WARNING: Surge in Ultra Wormhole activity reported.
ENTITY IDENTIFIED: Necrozma. Intentions unknown.
DIRECTIVE: Exercise caution”

Stay alert, Trainers!
It looks like Necrozma has clawed its way into #PokemonGO! pic.twitter.com/onRbY2YVeC
— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) April 10, 2024

Necrozma the fusion Pokémon
A group of data miners for Pokémon Go have also unearthed references to “fusion” in the game’s update files. The Fusion mechanic sees certain Pokémon combine with each other and at times Pokémon can even fuse with humans.
These digitally dug files are part of the Go Fest 2024 release taking place throughout the summer in physical and digital locations. The mechanic that notably took place in Pokémon Sun and Moon will likely see a comeback if the stripped update file is believed.
The festival kicks off in the home nation of Pokémon in Sendai, Japan from May 30 to June 2, 2024. The city will take on the mantle of host city for Pokémon GO Fest 2004. The site description says “This will mark “The Greenest City” in Japan’s first time hosting a GO Fest event. We can’t wait to bring GO Fest adventures back to Japan when we kick off the opening weekend.”
Other physical locations include the Spanish capital of Madrid, where the festival rumbles on from June 14 to 16, 2024. New York also plays host to the international event between July 5 to 7, 2024, with the site saying that the “penultimate Pokémon GO Fest 2024 weekend will take place in none other than New York City, where you’ll be able to enjoy all the diverse neighborhoods and culture that the Big Apple has to offer alongside thousands of other Trainers!”
Those who can’t attend one of the physical events can also take part in the global event and can purchase tickets via the Pokémon Go site. Trainers who buy from the Pokémon website will receive a special t-shirt that should arrive in time for the festival’s inception.
Image: Niantic.
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Back in the day when VR was all Fruit Ninja and Beat Saber you only needed to lie down after you had finished playing. These days with so many easy-going VR experiences like Headspace and the chance to watch movies via apps like Bigscreen and Virtual Desktop, sometimes you might just want to Quest 3 and chill.
Until now though that has been awkward as lying down made the Quest 3 beg for you to return to your stationary boundary, got all in a funk about looking up at the ceiling, and just generally didn’t play nice horizontally.
This has all changed with the rollout of the Quest 3 V64 software update which is currently being pushed out. This brings with it a new lying down mode to solve all these problems so let’s see how we get it up and running/
How to use Quest 3 apps while lying down
First things first you need to definitely be on v64, which there is every chance you are not. My personal Quest 3 is still on V63 and no amount of checking for new software updates in Settings will kick v64 into action. If the update hasn’t been pushed to your headset yet, you are just going to have to wait.
Next, and this is the slightly odd one, some people on V64 are reporting that they still do not have lying down mode, so what is going on there who knows but it will all be fixed up soon enough we are sure.
To see if the mode is available to you and activate it if it is, pop your Quest 3 on and head to the Settings App. From here find the Experimental Settings section and in here you can see all the goodness that is available to you.
If you have access to lying down you will see the option ‘Use Apps While Lying Down”. Toggle that on and your quest will now know the difference between up and down.
Eventually, this feature will come to the main version of the software but that will be in the future, for now, this is how you turn it on and off.
What’s new in Meta Quest v64
Besides lying down mode we are going to get better quality passthrough, less grainy, more vibrant colors and we should be able to read small text on our smartphones via Passthrough which is cool.
If you are still toying with getting a Meta Quest 3 you can read all about whether we think it is worth it or not right here.
Featured Image: AI-generated in MidJourney
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