January 2023: $BTC at $23K.
Fear & Greed Index: Greed

August 2024: $BTC at $55K.
Fear & Greed Index: Extreme Fear

Everything is relative.

For decentralized computing fans: The Compute Labs H100 GNFT sale is ongoing.

Key value proposition? Fractional GPU ownership.

An interesting thing imo, check my short summary explaining it.

You: Explain Polkadot to a normie
Me: Okaay, challenge accepted

Polkadot hosts over 50 unique chains with almost 60% $DOT staking rate.

If you're still unsure what's special about Polkadot, beyond its massive marketing and $8B market cap, this tweet will help.

BASICS

Alright, let's think of Polkadot as a high-tech communication hub for blockchains.

It's main modules:

• Communication Hub (Polkadot Network): Polkadot serves as a central place where various blockchains can connect and communicate efficiently.

• Central Coordinator (Relay Chain): The relay chain is the core part of Polkadot. It manages the network and ensures all the connected blockchains can exchange information securely and quickly. It also provides security so the Parachains don't need to bother with it.

• Connected Networks (Parachains): These are the different highly specialized blockchains that plug into Polkadot. Each parachain can have its own specific use case or functionality, but they all benefit from being able to communicate and share data through the central coordinator.

• Bridges: These allow Polkadot to connect with other blockchain networks like Ethereum or Bitcoin, enabling data and asset transfers between them.

COMPARISON

What's the real impact of this design?
It's best illustrated through comparison ↓

Ethereum:
Ok, we're general-purpose, ok for everyone but not great at specific solutions. We're adding L2s and sharding to handle more traffic (scale). For shared security, we'll let solutions like EigenLayer, Karak, and Avail step in.

Cosmos:
Imagine a network of independent cities. Each city (chain) has its own rules and defenses, but they can all trade and talk with each other.

Avalanche:
We've got three main highways and tons of side roads (subnets). The side roads are easy to build, but they each have their own patrol (security).

Polkadot:
A well-coordinated metropolis where specialized districts (parachains) connect through a central hub (relay chain), sharing security and upgrading without a hitch, all governed by the community.

Have you ever read a simpler explainer?
I doubt it.

There’s rarely something brand new in the space, but I loved a lot the idea of Mantis.

In a nutshell, Mantis is a DeFi settlement layer with native yields (imagine you deposit on Binance and as you wait for your order to be executed, it accrues yield).

A very interesting concept, here’s my overview.

Gm, fam!

Together with my X frens we’ve created this folder for you with nice channels covering crypto, research, and macro.

Add folder here.

Be informed, make thoughtful decisions.

Much love,
Stacy

Just as promised, here’s my compilation of the most important on-chain indicators to track, especially if you’re a mid-term or long-term investor.

The publication is available on my Substack, make sure to subscribe if you love the content I push ❤️

https://stacymuur.substack.com/p/5-metrics-to-track-when-you-lose

Since 2016, a16z has regularly shared the reading lists of their team.

Here is a compilation of 10 excellent economy, business, and finance books from their recommendations ↓

Publication on Substack
Twitter thread

Henlo, frens!
Here’s new research compilation from your humble servant

General
➖ CoinShares: Digital Asset Bi-Weekly Digest
➖ Coinbase: 2024 Allocator's Guide to Digital Asset Hedge Funds
➖ Binance: Reality Check: The Importance of Providing Real Value
➖ Galaxy: Ethereum All Core Developers Consensus Call #139 Writeup
➖ Galaxy: Weekly Top Stories - 8/9

Market
➖ Coinbase: Weekly: Shock and Awe
➖ Glassnode: A Return to HODLing
➖ Galaxy: Bitcoin Futures Basis Spikes with Renewed Market Optimism
➖ Galaxy: Market Turbulence and the Global Impact of the Yen Carry Trade

Blockchains & networks
➖ Cryptorank: Bitcoin Scaling Is Near: Prepare Yourself for OP_CAT (BIP-420)
➖ Coinbase: ETH and the Rise of L2s
➖ Footprint: July 2024 Public Chain Report: Navigating Market Fluctuations and Ethereum ETPs Impact

Tokens & currencies
➖ CoinGecko: Ethereum Turned Inflationary In 2024, First Time Since 2022

In 2024, the TON ecosystem has become a true phenomenon, experiencing a 45-fold increase in TVL since the start of the year.

Let's explore the top DeFi yield and airdrop opportunities on TON.

Here’s my summary.

If you believe we're experiencing a bull market correction, check Google Trends.

We are now at the levels seen in November 2023.

Was spring 2024 the shortest bull run in history, or has there been no bull market at all?

Cheat sheet: Top funding rounds of the summer.

I’ve cooked a new curated list for you, this time featuring the most interesting funding rounds of the summer.

Make sure to subscribe to my Substack btw (if not yet)

https://stacymuur.substack.com/p/the-best-fundraising-rounds-of-the

Ronin and Immutable are undeniably the most hyped leaders across gaming chains.

However, I’ve found a chain that has competitive or even better metrics than these two.

Did you guess the name? If not, check my thread!

New curated list of research articles for my dear fam:

General
➖ CoinShares: Digital Asset Bi-Weekly Digest
➖ Crypto.com: Research Roundup Newsletter [July 2024]
➖ Galaxy: Ethereum All Core Developers Execution Call #194 Writeup
➖ Galaxy: Weekly Top Stories - 8/16

Market
➖ Coinbase: Crypto Correlations: Perception vs Reality
➖ Coinbase: Weekly: Watching and Waiting
➖ Cointelegraph: Tokenized US Treasurys expected to surpass $3B by end of 2024
➖ Glassnode: New Investors Pain Cycle
➖ Galaxy: Winter Is Coming

DeFi
➖ ConsenSys: MetaMask, Mastercard and Baanx Unveil Revolutionary Way to Pay with Crypto

Blockchains & networks
➖ 4pillars: Particle Network - Protocol That Has Always Been [Abstracting] the User Experience in Crypto

Tokens & currencies
➖ CoinGecko: Analysts Expect Ethereum To Hit $6,000 In 2024
➖ Galaxy: 2024 Bitcoin Mining Mid-Year Report

For those of you who’re watching NEAR closely:

Here’s my analysis of NEAR’s performance in H1 2024, and the most important recent developments.

Enjoy reading!

Gm, fam!

Glue has launched a secret site with access codes.
I got 3 such codes for my fam, each works 25 times.

They say that there’s some perk awaiting those who fill out the form :)

https://glue.net/secret-page/
Access code: SHga9q
Access code: nIFVHz
Access code: VNUOgu

This isn't the headline you want, but it's the scenario you must 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 be prepared for.

The reality is that everyone now closely tracks US FED news to predict global crypto markets.

Global macro factors have always impacted Web3, but this is the first time I've seen the CT community monitor these changes so closely.

Or am I missing something?

PS: In case interested, here's the link to Galaxys podcast ↓
https://www.galaxy.com/insights/videos/winter-is-coming/

November 2022 vs. August 2024

• Bitcoin price: $15,800 → $61,600
• Bitcoin dominance: 38.7% → 56.2%
• Ethereum dominance: 16.8% → 15.2%
• Stablecoin dominance 17.3% → 7.4%
• Altcoin dominance 27.2% → 21.3%

Bitcoin maxis were right?

Next time a blogger hypes a secret strategy to turn you into a memecoin millionaire, keep in mind that:

• Most top PNL addresses are token deployers
• Only 3% of all Pumpdotfun traders earned more than $1K
• 0.8% have made over $10K
• More than 60% lost money

I'm now unfollowing and muting everyone who promises to teach you how to make millions overnight.

Posting this type of content = aiding and abetting fraud.

I recommend you do the same.

TON Open Interest has surged to $300M following Durov's arrest.

Even though Durov is not directly associated with TON management, the event has raised significant concerns about the future of Toncoin and the broader TON ecosystem.

The $TON price is down 17%.

Could be much worse, imo.