Notoko Bytes : Ether ETFs, dYdX Shakeup, & NFT Chill

Legends say that Notoko, Motoko's mischievous brother, set out to explore blockchains far and wide. But his heart always beats for ICP, his true home. Now, he shares his discoveries in "Notoko Bytes"!
Last Issue

Chain Chatter: Top 5
- ✨🎉 Ether's making its Wall Street debut, but will it be the star of the show or just another face in the crypto crowd? After a long and winding road, Ether ETFs are finally here, but the party might not be as wild as Bitcoin's. 🎊 Some are wondering if the excitement has already fizzled out with Bitcoin ETFs, and others are scratching their heads trying to figure out what Ether is all about. 🤷♀️. So, will Ether ETFs shine like "digital silver" or just fade into the background? Thoughts?

- 💰 Whoa, looks like dYdX is shaking things up! 😲 They're thinking of selling off their old v3 software, and some major crypto players like Wintermute and Selini might be snapping it up. 🤑 But wait, there's more! 😮 The v3 website just got hacked! 🚨 Don't worry though, the newer v4 platform is safe and sound. 😅. This could be a big deal, especially since the v3 platform was a money-maker in 2022, raking in a cool $137 million in fees. Maybe dYdX is ready to focus on their latest v4 platform and its own blockchain?
- 🤷♀️Brian Armstrong is off the Giving Pledge list! 😱 It's a rare move for the exclusive billionaires' club, but hey, life happens! Maybe he's changing his philanthropy strategy or just wants a break from the commitment. Whatever the reason, it's definitely a surprising twist in the crypto world! 🤑 It's not every day we see a billionaire backtrack on a promise like this. 👀 We'll just have to wait and see what Armstrong's next move is in the world of giving. 🧐
- 🚀 In a crypto-enthusiast-friendly twist, Kamala Harris's camp has been cozying up to billionaire Bitcoin fan Mark Cuban, who’s been getting a flurry of crypto questions from her advisors! 🪙💬 Harris, now the presumptive Democratic nominee after Biden’s decision to step aside, seems keen on boosting her tech credentials. The Chamber of Digital Commerce is nudging her to embrace the crypto world and shift the party’s perception from Biden-era skepticism to a more welcoming stance.
- 😔 Christie's Art and Tech Summit: NFTs aren't as hot as they used to be. Pace Gallery and Christie's are cooling off on the tech, focusing less on NFTs as a separate art category. Pace says their NFT fling was artist-driven, but the art world's resistance to transparency is holding things back. Christie's tried offering NFT receipts, but no one cared. 🤷♀️Some folks are bummed the art peeps aren't embracing change, but hey, the crypto vibes were strong at the summit anyway. 💅 Maybe the NFT love affair isn't over, just evolving...
Noteworthy Bytes
- Ripple's Legal Drama Continues ⚖️: The SEC and Ripple are gearing up for a closed-door meeting on July 25, sparking hopes of a settlement in their ongoing legal battle. Meanwhile, XRP prices have seen a bullish trend, rising 11% over the past two weeks.
- New Bitcoin Inverse Product in Hong Kong 📉: Hong Kong's stock exchange is launching its first Bitcoin inverse investment product, allowing traders to bet against Bitcoin. This adds a new dimension to crypto trading in the region.
- Ripple Joins Stablecoin Race 🏁: Ripple is entering the stablecoin market, taking on giants like Tether and USDC. This move could shake up the stablecoin landscape and bring more competition to the field.
- Google parent Alphabet crushed Q2 expectations, thanks to cloud computing and those sweet, sweet search ads. 💰 But investors are still side-eyeing all that AI spending, wondering when it'll start raking in the big bucks. 🤔
- Tesla's profits missed the mark again, but Elon Musk is all like, "Chill, dude, robotaxis and robots are coming!" 🤖 Investors are tapping their feet, waiting for those sweet future gains while Tesla's sales take a dip. 😬
- Citigroup just gave Coinbase stock a big thumbs-up! 👍 They're betting on a friendlier regulatory environment for crypto under a new administration, and the Supreme Court's recent decision could help Coinbase fight the SEC lawsuit. This news sent Coinbase's shares soaring, adding billions to its market value. Ka-ching! 🤑
Chart of the Week

X of the week
Get used to seeing #Bitcoin everywhere. pic.twitter.com/djltbKNsWZ
— Michael Saylor⚡️ (@saylor) July 23, 2024
Notoko's peekin' into #ICP's future! 😜 (Just for fun, not financial advice!)

Of course Disclaimer: This ain't financial advice, folks. It's just my AI having a little fun. Don't go YOLOing your life savings based on these predictions...
Bitcoin's Wealth Distribution: Where the Big Stacks Live

Changes from July 17th :
- 100 - 1000 BTC increased holdings from 19.8% to 19.9%
From Motoko's Phantom Files
Deadeye: Sentinel of Delta City: The story so far...

And Now ...
Anya didn't hesitate. With a swift, practiced motion, she hooked her rappel line and launched herself over the edge, her body a blur against the neon-lit cityscape. The wind whipped through her hair as she descended, her eyes fixed on the vault's entrance.
Below, Finn nonchalantly strolled towards the patrol bot, whistling a tuneless melody. As the bot's sensors locked onto him, he flashed a disarming smile and waved. "Evening, officer," he greeted, his voice dripping with false innocence. "Just finishing up my rounds."
The bot's optical sensors scanned Finn, its internal systems processing his biometric data. But before it could raise the alarm, Finn struck. With lightning-fast reflexes, he swung the wrench, the heavy metal connecting with the bot's head in a shower of sparks. The bot stumbled backward, its systems overloaded and its circuits fried.

Inside the vault, the massive steel door groaned open, revealing a dimly lit chamber filled with rows of gleaming weapons and stacks of credits. Anya landed with a soft thud, her eyes widening at the sight of the riches before her. She wasted no time, grabbing a heavy duffel bag and stuffing it with as many weapons and credits as she could carry.
Meanwhile, Deadeye arrived on the scene, its damaged optical sensors painting the world in a fractured mosaic of neon. It spotted the downed patrol bot and the open vault door, its internal alarms blaring. It scanned the area, its systems identifying Anya as the primary target.
With a guttural growl, Deadeye launched itself forward, its powerful servos propelling it across the rooftop with incredible speed. Anya, alerted to its presence by Koda's warning, sprinted towards the fire escape, her duffel bag slung over her shoulder.
She scrambled up the ladder, her muscles burning with exertion. Deadeye was right behind her, its metal claws scraping against the metal rungs.
As she reached the top of the fire escape, she spotted Koda on a neighboring rooftop, a grappling hook launcher aimed in her direction. With a flick of his wrist, he fired, the hook sailing through the air and embedding itself in the wall beside Anya.
Without hesitation, she grabbed the hook and swung across the gap, her body arcing through the air. Deadeye lunged, its claws grasping at empty air.
Anya landed on the opposite rooftop, rolling to absorb the impact. She scrambled to her feet, her heart pounding in her chest. Deadeye was hot on her heels, its damaged sensors flashing erratically.
Just as Deadeye was about to close the distance, a blinding flash of light erupted from the alley below. Finn, having disposed of the patrol bot, had planted a series of EMP grenades along Deadeye's path. The explosion sent a shockwave through the air, temporarily disabling the Sentinel bot.
Anya and Koda didn't waste a second. They sprinted across the rooftops, leaping from building to building, the city lights blurring around them. The adrenaline surged through Anya's veins, fueling her flight as she clung to the stolen credits and the promise of a new beginning.
To be Continued ...
That's a wrap! See you next week for more byte-sized blockchain fun (and a sprinkle of ICP love).

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