Weekly News from Polkadot & Kusama #100

1. Polkadotters celebrate 100 Weekly News editions and two years of reporting

Yeah, we did it! Polkadotters Weekly News marked a remarkable milestone by reaching the 100th edition, a testament to two years of unwavering dedication to the Polkadot community. This incredible journey, filled with insights, updates, conference reports, and community highlights, has cemented our role as a trusted source of information and connection within the ever-evolving Polkadot ecosystem.

Thanks for being with us for that long, we are nothing without a vibrant community!

2. Crust Shadow has won the 107th parachain auction on Kusama

Crust Shadow has won the 107th parachain auction on Kusama by self-funding using 89 KSM worth $1.5k. Crust Shadow is already a winner of auctions no. 19 and no. 57.

Crust Shadow is a canary from Crust Network. Crust Shadow is an integral part of the Crust network, serving as the incentive layer protocol for decentralized storage. This technology is highly adaptable, supporting multiple storage layer protocols including IPFS, and it extends its support to the application layer.

2. Genshiro has won the 108th parachain auction on Kusama

Genshiro has won the 108th parachain auction on Kusama by self-funding using 11.13 KSM worth $197. Genshiro is already a winner of auctions no. 15 and no. 56.

Genshiro, the canary network for Equilibrium, offers users the opportunity to test pioneering and experimental features before they are made available to the wider Polkadot community. It provides access to an extended array of cryptocurrencies compared to Equilibrium, relaxed margin regulations, the Curve AMM, a decentralized exchange offering derivative contracts on assets like ETFs, stocks, gold, and commodities, among other features.

3. Web3 Foundation’s new $40M fund impacts Polkadot ecosystem

Web3 Foundation has recently unveiled a fresh $40 million initiative aimed at bolstering projects and teams contributing to Polkadot’s expansion. From now on, Parity is shifting its focus merely toward technology development and fostering a robust developer community, stepping back from its go-to-market functions.

The allocation of grants directly by W3F introduces an intriguing dynamic. This move could potentially alleviate some of the demands placed on Polkadot’s existing treasury, valued at approximately $160 million. Whether this will lead to a reduction in OpenGov proposal volume or if it will remain unaffected remains an open question.

This evolution of funding mechanisms within the Polkadot ecosystem will be closely watched, as the growth should be driven by Polkadot’s strongest team: its community!

Web3 Foundation announced that the program to help initiatives get off the ground will target to deploy 20M CHF and 5M DOT throughout 2024. More details will be shared in the coming weeks about the official launch date and how to apply for funding.

4. SLPx by Bifrost simplifying cross-chain liquidity for Polkadot

Last week, Bifrost launched the SLPx pallet. This pallet simplifies cross-chain liquidity on Polkadot. Users can mint, redeem, and swap vTokens across chains with a single click.

This innovation streamlines interactions, removing complex cross-chain processes. Supported by Moonbeam, Moonriver, and Astar, SLPx will expand to more chains soon. It transforms the user experience and offers applications new opportunities in DeFi and Web3, making it a game-changer for Polkadot’s liquidity.

5. Bifrost's new OmniLS DApp streamlines liquid staking with SLPx

Another big news from last week by Bifrost. Bifrost’s new OmniLS DApp, accessible at http://omni.ls, leverages the SLPx pallet to enable effortless minting of vTokens including vETH, vDOT, vASTR, vGLMR, vFIL, vMOVR, vBNC, and vKSM.

This front-end application simplifies the staking process, offering users one-click access to Bifrost Liquid Staking tokens on any chain. No more need to transfer tokens to Bifrost, as the OmniLS DApp makes cross-chain interactions hassle-free, enhancing user experiences across the ecosystem.

6. Apillon unveils revamped website with an exciting giveaway for Web3 developers

In an exciting development, Apillon has introduced its newly redesigned website, specially tailored to embrace the next generation of Web3 developers. This overhaul marks a significant step forward in creating a seamless and user-friendly experience for users entering the world of Web3 development.

But there’s more — Apillon is celebrating this milestone with a generous giveaway. New websites released on the Apillon platform will receive an additional 10 GB of free storage. It’s the perfect opportunity for developers to explore the possibilities of Web3.

7. Tanssi and Gauntlet collaborate to enhance economic model

Moondance Labs, the team behind the Tanssi appchain infrastructure protocol, has announced a collaboration with Gauntlet. Gauntlet, known for its quantitative analysis and optimization of blockchain protocols, will assist Tanssi in refining its economic model to support sustainable growth while maintaining accessibility for key contributors.

Tanssi simplifies appchain deployment, converting them into ContainerChains, significantly reducing deployment times from months to mere hours.

The collaboration between Tanssi and Gauntlet aims to strengthen the blockchain ecosystem and ensure that Tanssi’s infrastructure aligns with the community’s evolving needs, emphasizing innovation and community-centric blockchain solutions.

8. Litentry collaborates with OneBlock+ to support blockchain education

Litentry, a leader in Web3 identity and data aggregation, is partnering with OneBlock+ to enhance its educational initiatives to assist the project in issuing certificates to its students. OneBlock+ focuses on fostering the developer community through free courses, workshops, and hackathons, aimed at encouraging blockchain project development.

9. Interlay joins Moonbeam’s Routed Liquidity ecosystem with Carrier Bridge

The Polkadot ecosystem expands as Moonbeam’s Routed Liquidity (MRL) welcomes Interlay, a decentralized network with a unique mission of connecting Bitcoin with DeFi platforms like Polkadot and Ethereum. Interlay’s InterBTC asset, or xciBTC, gains interoperability through MRL, courtesy of Carrier, an advanced bridge system. This expansion demonstrates Polkadot’s readiness for seamless Bitcoin transition into the DeFi world, supported by a robust, user-friendly bridge.

10. EQ.finance unleashes Liquid Staked Derivatives (LSDs) in Polkadot’s DeFi ecosystem

Liquid Staked Derivatives (LSDs) are revolutionizing DeFi on Polkadot, unlocking new possibilities for crypto enthusiasts. EQ.finance, a cutting-edge LSD hub, is here to spearhead this transformation. LSDs enable users to stake assets, earn staking rewards, and utilize those assets in DeFi, amplifying their earning potential.

EQ.finance opens a gateway for Polkadot’s LSD holders to access instant dollar liquidity, beginning with the EQD stablecoin. As the project expands to other networks, the possibilities are limitless, making EQ.finance a key player in the evolving DeFi landscape. Stay tuned for their upcoming farming campaign with enticing rewards.

11. Astar Network and Polkadex unveil functional XCM channels

The Polkadot ecosystem is now buzzing with the successful activation of XCM channels between Astar Network and the Polkadex parachain. This means seamless cross-chain transfers of ASTR tokens to Polkadex and back are now a reality, thanks to Thea, a robust decentralized token bridge.

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