Today in Crypto: Polkadot Founders Launch a $45 Million Community Project, Bybit Reveals Easy Options Tool, Taurus SA Expands to Dubai

Get your daily, bite-sized digest of crypto and blockchain-related news – investigating the stories flying under the radar of today’s news.
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Investment news

• Web3 Foundation, whose flagship project is the Polkadot blockchain protocol, announced the launch and opening of applications for their Decentralised Futures Program. The program is backed by $20 million and 5 million DOT throughout 2024, equivalent to over $45 million. It will provide funding to kickstart teams and individuals building projects that contribute to the growth of the Polkadot ecosystem. “The Decentralised Futures Program is part of Web3 Foundation’s mission to empower the Polkadot community to lead the decentralised development of the Polkadot ecosystem,” the announcement said.
• Taurus SA, a FINMA-regulated Swiss institutional-grade digital asset infrastructure provider (including for Deutsche Bank), announced the expansion of its operations with a new office in Dubai. Taurus already has several clients and partners in the region, the press release said. Managing Director Bashir Kazour leads Taurus’ new UAE office based in the DIFC in Dubai. Kazour has more than 20 years of retail, capital markets, and technology experience gained at the Royal Bank of Canada, Standard Chartered, and FIS. Over the last decade, he collaborated closely with a diverse client base ranging from sovereign wealth funds and central banks to brokers and family offices, the company added.

Exchange news

• Bybit announced the launch of Easy Options, described as a new, user-friendly tool designed to simplify options trading. Per the press release, the feature is available from November 15 and is particularly beneficial for beginners, traders seeking profit opportunities, and those who wish to emulate expert traders. Easy Options is an entry-level tool that eliminates the complex process of filtering through numerous expiration dates and prices. “By showcasing popular options and crucial information, it enables users to quickly grasp profit opportunities with a one-click buy solution,” the exchange said.

Blockchain news

• Nocturne, a protocol enabling on-chain private accounts, announced the successful deployment of Nocturne v1 to the Ethereum mainnet. It said that users now have a compatible and easy-to-use product resembling a private onchain account, adding that: “Nocturne v1 is a step towards compatible onchain privacy that functions simply as another account rather than a distinct tool or ecosystem.” In other words, transacting with Nocturne is similar to using a smart contract wallet with added privacy. Nocturne v1 is compatible with any DeFi protocol that represents state via output tokens (e.g. Uniswap swap tokens, Aave aTokens, Compound cTokens, etc). There are plans to later extend this compatibility to arbitrary protocols, it added.

NFT news

• The global token and blockchain platform CROWN Token Project announced a new NFT collection on its ADOT platform. Per the announcement, it will be rolling out a limited edition LAST GAME NFT collection on November 18, representing the T-pop girl group Last Idol as a final gift to their fans. The free-to-mint collection will include thirty NFTs depicting the group with six editions and will include a musical composition. The collection will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, it added.

Gaming news

• Decentralized exchange (DEX) PancakeSwap has launched its Gaming Marketplace, allowing developers to directly build, publish, and update games on the platform to an audience of 1.5 million potential players, while providing a hub for the community to explore games that include ecosystem elements, such as tokens and NFTs. Per the announcement, the expansion of PancakeSwap’s blockchain gaming initiatives follows the DEX’s debut game “Pancake Protectors” in May 2023, launched in partnership with GameFi protocol Mobox. The game attracted over 25,000 players DAU during peak times and “highlights the abundant opportunities game developers can tap into with this new Gaming Marketplace,” the DEX said.