Proof – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com Latest Crypto News Thu, 31 Jul 2025 05:25:52 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.7 https://i0.wp.com/earlybirdsinvest.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/cropped-New-Project-2024-12-17T235703.455.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Proof – Earlybirds Invest https://earlybirdsinvest.com 32 32 240146708 Kraken releases the latest backup proof and continues our commitment to trusting through transparency https://earlybirdsinvest.com/kraken-releases-the-latest-backup-proof-and-continues-our-commitment-to-trusting-through-transparency/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/kraken-releases-the-latest-backup-proof-and-continues-our-commitment-to-trusting-through-transparency/#respond Thu, 31 Jul 2025 05:25:52 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/kraken-releases-the-latest-backup-proof-and-continues-our-commitment-to-trusting-through-transparency/

At Kraken, transparency is not a slogan. That’s standard. Our latest news Preliminary Proof (POR) AuditIt was completed at that point June 30, 2025Again, make sure that the client assets held on the platform are backed up to 1:1 or later. This process includes the main crypto assets BTC, ETH, SOL, USDC, USDT, XRP, ADA.

We don’t expect blind trust. We don’t need it. Provides evidence of encryption.

Is it your first time with POR? Learn how it works in a beginner’s guide.

The June 2025 report shows

Our POR Audit captures a complete snapshot of client assets across all services, not just spot balance. Included Margin accounts, futures holdings, and betting assetsIt provides a full spectrum view of customer exposure.

Reserve ratios as of June 30, 2025

A simple review – What is a proof of preparation?

Proof of reserves is a encryption process that allows the client to independently and personally verify that the assets are contained in a third-party audited snapshot of the platform’s liability.

Use a Markle Tree Combine individual balances into a single cryptographic hash. Client receives a Personalized Markle Proofcan be used to confirm inclusion without revealing personal details. An independent auditor then checks Kraken’s Onchain Holdings exceeds the total client balance – Effectively test your complete preparation without assumptions.

Why is Kraken’s POR going even further?

Nowadays, more exchanges offer some form of “pole” offering, but not all of them offer the same level of rigor or transparency. This is what sets us apart:

1. Consider not only assets but also liabilities

Some platforms show what they have, but skip what they owe. Included Client’s Total Debt With all audits. Below that is not complete evidence of reserves.

2. User-Level Verification

All clients can Check your own inclusion Use the open source Merkle Verification Tool. This is not just about trust, it is about verification.

3. Ten Year Consistency

First I developed POR 2014 – And we haven’t stopped. Kraken will implement for Regular and orderlyit’s not just the news cycle.

POR is essential. It’s not about promises. That’s about evidence – Visible, encryption, and proof of third-party verification. Kraken’s process is built to withstand scrutiny and provide information to users.

What’s next – Enlarge scope

We are committed to publishing Pors quarterin addition to our financial disclosures, we also ensure that users have a normal window in our platform solvency. We are also actively working to expand and include our pole coverage. More supported assetsgives us a broader view of the reserves throughout our ecosystem.

From the beginning, Kraken was a supporter. Accountability, Independence, Cryptographic Primary Values. I believe transparency should be an industry norm, not an afterthought. So we keep raising the bar.

Ready to verify your account? Please visit the spare proof portal.

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Everyone hates proof of stake, will we do something about it? https://earlybirdsinvest.com/everyone-hates-proof-of-stake-will-we-do-something-about-it/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/everyone-hates-proof-of-stake-will-we-do-something-about-it/#respond Sat, 19 Jul 2025 20:56:45 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/everyone-hates-proof-of-stake-will-we-do-something-about-it/

The following is a guest post and opinion from Carter Feldman, CEO & Founder of Psy Protocol.

When Bitcoin emerged in 2009, it introduced an elegant consensus mechanism called Proof of Work (PoW). This system required miners to solve complex mathematical puzzles, consuming significant electricity to secure the network. For years, this approach defined blockchain.

Then came the critics. PoW was labeled unsustainable, unscalable, and ultimately unfit for mainstream adoption. Even before Ethereum launched in 2015, Vitalik Buterin was already advocating for a shift to Proof of Stake (PoS). The move promised to cut energy consumption while maintaining security through validator deposits rather than computational power. The industry, confronted with PoW’s apparent limitations, largely embraced this vision. It seemed like the natural evolution of blockchain.

The Great Panic

Let’s be honest about one thing that happened: the crypto space experienced a collective moral panic about energy consumption. Environmental activists, politicians, and even industry insiders weaponized PoW’s energy requirements against the technology itself.

Some of these concerns were valid at the time. The blockchain industry, eager for mainstream acceptance and wary of regulatory backlash, embraced PoS as the solution to its image problem. Ethereum’s shift to PoS was celebrated as crypto “growing up” and becoming environmentally responsible.

Proof of Stake promised substantial benefits: energy efficiency and higher (but not by much) transaction throughput.

Security in PoW systems is tied to something external and measurable – computational power and electricity. This creates a tangible economic barrier against attacks. In addition, PoW is a bulwark against censorship since anyone can mine a Bitcoin block. PoS, however, secures networks through self-referential mechanisms. The system is secured by the very tokens it produces. In a simple analysis, this might seem OK, but it naturally evolves into ever more complex incentives like liquid staking/re-staking that introduce exponentially growing complexity and potential for abuse. In short, this circularity is the equivalent of taking a currency off the gold standard – it works until it doesn’t.

There is an uncomfortable truth that few have the courage to say openly: Proof of Stake created a new oligarchy in the very space that was meant to democratize and decentralize finance. In PoS networks, those with the most tokens have the most influence. Some believed that this would incentivize the rich and powerful to look out for everyone. As most of us are aware, the truth is that the shift to PoS instead resulted in the rich using their power to prey upon end users through techniques like front-running and other forms of MEV.

Over time, natural economic forces push toward the concentration of power. The largest stakeholders accumulate more rewards, further cementing their control – control that inevitably leads to exploitation of end users.

Everyone in the industry knows these problems exist. Yet publicly, we maintain the façade that everything is working as intended. This cognitive dissonance cannot continue if we’re serious about building truly decentralized systems.

Breaking the Trilemma

For years, we’ve accepted the “blockchain trilemma” as immutable truth. This concept holds that blockchain systems must sacrifice one of three properties: decentralization, security, or scalability. Bitcoin prioritized security and decentralization at the expense of throughput. Ethereum’s shift to PoS aimed to process “several thousands of transactions per second” to compete with legacy payment systems, but this meant compromising on other dimensions.

The trade-off seemed unavoidable. While PoS eliminated the concentration around mining hardware, it introduced concentration around economic power. Those with more tokens gain more influence – a different form of centralization, but centralization nonetheless.

But what if the trilemma is no longer absolute?

Recent advances in the field of zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) have opened up an entirely new pathway – one that allows for horizontal scalability without fundamentally compromising security or decentralization. These powerful cryptographic innovations allow transactions, or indeed any computation, to be proven correct without requiring every node in the network to redundantly process them. Users can, in effect, prove the validity of their own transactions locally on their own devices, submitting only a tiny, easily verifiable mathematical proof to the network.

What’s more, nodes on the network could work together to aggregate all the transaction proofs into a single block proof that anyone could verify in real time on a smartwatch. With this kind of a network, there is no longer a need for a trusted group of nodes to validate each transaction. “Don’t trust. Verify.”

This approach transforms the fundamental economics of blockchains. When users prove their own transactions, the network no longer needs to charge high fees for scarce block space. Processing a million transactions doesn’t materially increase block time when using recursive proof aggregation.

Proof of Work Works

Beyond energy debates, PoW delivers qualities PoS cannot match.

PoW enables true bootstrapping. Bitcoin began with zero value, yet miners committed real resources that created genuine digital scarcity. PoS networks face an impossible chicken-and-egg problem: they need valuable tokens before security exists.

Only PoW provides objective finality through irreversible work. Bitcoin’s history is secured by measurable effort, not votes. Each block represents energy that cannot be reclaimed.

Perhaps most critically for true decentralization, Psy’s approach makes 51% attacks mathematically impossible. By using zero-knowledge proofs to verify transactions, the integrity of the entire chain is guaranteed from genesis. Even if attackers somehow gained control of all mining power, they couldn’t rewrite history or create invalid blocks. This fundamental innovation maintains PoW’s external security model while eliminating its greatest vulnerability, further cementing the case for returning to our proof-of-work roots.

Reclaiming What We Lost

PoS made perfect sense in 2015, but clinging to PoS in 2025, when better alternatives exist, makes no sense.

The miners who secure PoW networks aren’t just energy consumers; they’re essential guardians against centralization. Their operations, scattered globally and bound by physics rather than token economics, create a genuine distribution of power.

The reasons that drove us toward PoS simply no longer apply. With zero-knowledge proofs enabling horizontal scalability, Proof of Work 2.0 now outperforms PoS across critical dimensions: energy efficiency is dramatically improved through local transaction verification, throughput limitations are solved through proof aggregation, and true decentralization is preserved rather than sacrificed.

We took a detour with Proof of Stake that created new oligarchies in the very space meant to democratize finance. The good news is we now have the technology to course-correct. Modern PoW blockchains deliver the performance needed for mainstream adoption while preserving the foundational values that matter. The motivation for transitioning to PoS is outdated. It’s time we acknowledge this.

Mentioned in this article
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Barry Silbert, Bittensor, and AI’s Next Frontier Dominate Headlines in Paris at Proof of Talk 2025 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/barry-silbert-bittensor-and-ais-next-frontier-dominate-headlines-in-paris-at-proof-of-talk-2025/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/barry-silbert-bittensor-and-ais-next-frontier-dominate-headlines-in-paris-at-proof-of-talk-2025/#respond Thu, 19 Jun 2025 13:00:49 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/barry-silbert-bittensor-and-ais-next-frontier-dominate-headlines-in-paris-at-proof-of-talk-2025/

Last updated: 

  • Breakthrough announcements by Yuma Group, peaq, Pulsar, Somnia, and Entravel set the tone at Proof of Talk 2025, where visionary discussions, like Silvio Micali’s tokenless Fiat Chain, pushed the boundaries of what’s next for AI and decentralized systems – from infrastructure to finance
  • More than 3,000 leaders from policy, finance, and blockchain gather for powerful conversations, key announcements, and groundbreaking initiatives in the heart of Paris

Returning to the historic Louvre Paris, Proof of Talk 2025 delivered its most impactful edition yet, welcoming over 3,000 attendees from across the globe for two days of high-level dialogue, transformative insights, and real-world action across DeAI, DeFi, tokenization, and beyond.

Proof of Talk once again proved itself as the forum where traditional finance, frontier tech, and decentralized builders converge to shape the future of global systems, with Barry Silbert making a highly anticipated return to the public stage after nearly five years away. In a headline-making panel with Mosaic Venture Partners’ David Lawee and former Forbes Senior Reporter Michael del Castillo, Silbert announced that Yuma Group will launch an asset management business focused on alpha token strategies. The initiative marks Silbert’s entry into the rapidly growing Bittensor ecosystem and is designed to give institutional investors streamlined access to high-potential teams and projects building across its subnets, potentially signaling a pivotal moment in Bittensor’s evolution.

Bittensor also took center stage at Proof of Talk 2025, with Co-founder Jacob Steeves delivering a standout keynote, “Satanic to Sublime: Aligning Human Potential Through Open-Ownership Protocols.” The mainstage was packed to the last seat, with attendees standing to hear his powerful vision for decentralized AI and open-ownership systems.

Some other standout announcements include Somnia, detailing how Sparkball, backed by $2M and developed by industry veterans, will leverage Somnia’s Layer 1 network to introduce on-chain wager mechanics and prize tournaments and transform the esports landscape; and Entravel launching EntravelX, the world’s first Telegram-native hotel booking app, tailored for the growing wave of crypto-savvy travelers.

Unveiled live at Day 2 of Proof of Talk 2025, peaq, the Machine Economy computer, and Pulsar Group, a leading Emirati advisory firm in tech and blockchain, also announced the launch of the world’s first Machine Economy Free Zone (MEFZ), set to roll out in Abu Dhabi and Dubai while legendary MIT professor and Algorand founder Silvio Micali took the main stage to unveil a bold new vision for blockchain: the Fiat Chain, a public, decentralized ledger that operates without a native cryptocurrency.

Zohair Dehnadi, Co-Founder and CEO of Proof of Talk, said:

“Proof of Talk 2025 has marked a milestone in bringing together visionary leaders and groundbreaking projects in the blockchain space. With announcements like Somnia’s ecosystem expansion and deep discussions on finance and tokenization, it’s clear that this industry is moving beyond innovation to become a core part of our digital future. We’re excited to keep driving this momentum.”

Over 700 industry-leading Web3 companies were present at Proof of Talk 2025, showcasing their latest innovations and thought leadership across one of the space’s most influential and curated exhibitions. Title sponsors included MEXC Ventures, the investment arm of the global cryptocurrency exchange MEXC, Unit Network, a decentralized financial ecosystem enabling trading of real-world and digital assets through tokenization, Somnia, a pioneer in immersive metaverse infrastructure; CertiK, the premier blockchain security firm; and General Tao and Tao Ventures, builders and investors in decentralized AI infrastructure, both recognised as thought leaders within the Bittensor ecosystem.

Wrapping up an inspiring two days of conversations and innovation, Proof of Talk 2025 culminated with the launch of the Top 50 Women in Web3 & AI initiative, in partnership with CoinDesk and TON Foundation, celebrating leading female innovators in blockchain and AI. The winners were recognised at an exclusive gala dinner, honoring excellence, leadership, and the power of representation in tech. Among them were Daniela Amodei, Co-founder and President of Anthropic; Anima Anandkumar, Bren Professor of Computing and Mathematical Sciences at the California Institute of Technology; and Betsabe Botaitis, Chief Financial Officer of Hedera. The launch highlighted the vital need for greater representation and recognition of women in tech’s fastest-growing fields.

With event highlights such as the Investor Dinner and Proof of Pitch Startup Competition and over 140 VCs joining from a16z, Pantera Capital, Arrington, Borderless, Animoca Brands, and Haun Ventures, alongside institutional heavyweights such as BlackRock, J.P. Morgan, and Goldman Sachs, this years event made one thing clear: crypto is here to stay.

Following the success of the 2025 edition, Proof of Talk will return in 2026 with an expanded format and a continued commitment to hosting the most influential conversations in Web3 and beyond. For more information on future editions and partnership opportunities, visit: www.proofoftalk.io.


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Proof of Reserves? Michael Saylor says no https://earlybirdsinvest.com/proof-of-reserves-michael-saylor-says-no/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/proof-of-reserves-michael-saylor-says-no/#respond Wed, 28 May 2025 00:08:34 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/proof-of-reserves-michael-saylor-says-no/

Bitcoin 2025 started today in Las Vegas and will be running ’til Thursday.

It’s the biggest Bitcoin event in the world – and this year’s speaker lineup definitely lives up to the hype.

We’ve got Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht, Senator Cynthia Lummis, Peter Schiff. Yes, the gold guy, #1 Bitcoin hater himself.

You can scroll the full list here, but today we’re focusing on one name in particular: Michael Saylor.

He’s the co-founder of Strategy and basically the face of corporate Bitcoin buying.

(Sidenote: we did a deep dive into why companies like Strategy matter for Bitcoin’s future – check that out if you missed it!)

Anyways, Saylor got asked if Strategy was planning to publish Proof of Reserves (PoR).

In plain English: will they publicly show wallet addresses to prove they actually hold the Bitcoin they say they do?

The answer?.. No ❤

He said that PoR is risky and straight up just bad for institutions, because:

  • PoR only shows assets, not liabilities. So you don’t know what debts or risks are hiding behind those reserves;

  • Sharing wallet addresses publicly exposes long-term holdings, which can create privacy risks or even security threats.

Saylor says that institutions need a much stronger standard: like Big Four audits that not only verify holdings but also ensure the Bitcoin isn’t being loaned out or used as collateral, with executives held legally accountable for the results – just like Strategy did.

And this got some people mad.

Here’s why they got mad:

  • Bitcoin’s whole thing is transparency – you should be able to verify, not just trust;

  • Saying “we have reserves, just trust our auditor” feels like TradFi, not crypto.

That said…

Strategy is TradFi. When you buy $MSTR, you’re not buying Bitcoin – you’re buying shares in a public company that happens to own a lot of it.

The whole setup is built for institutional investors, not the average crypto degen. And let’s be honest, institutional clients probably care more about audit reports than seeing wallet addresses.

So yeah, it’s a bit weird to criticize them for using a TradFi model… when they’re literally a TradFi company.

And just like Saylor pointed out: if you want true crypto-style security, buy Bitcoin directly and self-custody it.

But if you wanna go the institutional route, real financial audits – not wallet screenshots – are gonna be the way to go.

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Kraken completes the latest spare proof and raises the bar for transparency in the crypto platform https://earlybirdsinvest.com/kraken-completes-the-latest-spare-proof-and-raises-the-bar-for-transparency-in-the-crypto-platform/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/kraken-completes-the-latest-spare-proof-and-raises-the-bar-for-transparency-in-the-crypto-platform/#respond Wed, 07 May 2025 19:01:24 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/kraken-completes-the-latest-spare-proof-and-raises-the-bar-for-transparency-in-the-crypto-platform/

We are proud to reaffirm our industry’s leadership in transparency with our latest Proof of Readiness (POR), completed as of March 31, 2025, including client holdings for BTC, ETH, SOL, USDC, USDT, XRP, and first time ADA. This rigorous verification process Make sure you have enough assets to fully back up your client’s balance. We don’t just ask you to trust us – we ask you to encrypt our custody of your encryption.

If you’re not used to POR, what is proof of a reserve? A guide blog post for beginners.

Our latest POR Bitcoin Reserve Results: 114.9% coverage

With the latest POR, we have confirmed that we are holding 192,091.25 BTC In our wallet, customers balance by total 167,188.68 BTC. This allows Reserve ratio of 114.9%meaning it holds nearly 15% Bitcoin than it owe it to users.

POR doesn’t just include spot holdings. It also includes margin positions, futures balances and even betting assets. This overall approach ensures that all kinds of customer exposures are considered. There are also other ways our POR methods continue to set industry standards.

What is POR?

POR is a cryptographic process that allows you to publicly demonstrate that cryptocurrency exchanges hold full user assets. Kraken uses a Markle Tree – Encrypted data structures that compile all user balances into a single root hash – Allow users to ensure that a specific balance is included without compromising personal privacy. The third party will confirm that the exchange’s on-chine holdings are at the total client balance or equal or greater than the same. This helps us to make sure we are not working with fractional reserves.

Not all poles are created equally

Many exchanges now offer what they call POR in one way or another, but our approach stands out in several important ways.

  • Includes full responsibility
    Not only does it showcase assets, it also discloses client liabilities. Many platforms omit this important half of the equation, which can give a misleading impression of solvency.
  • User-Level Verification Tool
    Users can independently verify that their balance is included in the POR process via Merkle Tree Proofs. This additional transparency builds trust and accountability.
  • Consistent and continuous transparency
    POR is not treated as a one-time PR exercise. After pioneering the process in 2014, we do it regularly to ensure consistent visibility into how users manage their platform’s funds.

Because “taking our words” is not enough

After some notable crypto exchange breakdowns, FTX-clients in particular need to demand transparency and accountability. POR provides a clear and verifiable way to prove that client assets are secure and fully described.

Our high reserve ratios and user-verified methodology provide a direct response to this need. It’s not just that funds are safe. Almost every exchange that has failed so far promises that clients’ funds are safe. It’s about proving it: encryption, independent, periodically.

More evidence, more frequently: Move to quarterly pocadence

Going forward, we are committed to releasing POR quarters along with previous financial results to provide even more frequent transparency. Additionally, we are working to expand the scope of our future poles to include a wider range of supported assets, further strengthening our commitment to accountability across the platform.

Since 2014, we have been the leader in setting and procuring POR standards for crypto holders seeking a reliable exchange of future prospects.

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Google embraces zero-knowledge proof tech for enhanced privacy in digital IDs https://earlybirdsinvest.com/google-embraces-zero-knowledge-proof-tech-for-enhanced-privacy-in-digital-ids/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/google-embraces-zero-knowledge-proof-tech-for-enhanced-privacy-in-digital-ids/#respond Fri, 02 May 2025 20:42:04 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/google-embraces-zero-knowledge-proof-tech-for-enhanced-privacy-in-digital-ids/

Google has added Zero-Knowledge Proof (ZKP) technology to its Google Wallet platform to strengthen user privacy in digital identity systems.

The company confirmed this feature is active and enables users to verify their age across apps, websites, and devices, without disclosing personal information.

According to Google:

“We will use ZKP where appropriate in other Google products and partner with apps like Bumble, which will use digital IDs from Google Wallet to verify user identity and ZKP to verify age.”

Furthermore, the tech giant has plans to open-source its ZKP tools, allowing other wallet providers and developers to adopt privacy-first authentication systems.

This development stems from Google’s effort to create a privacy-preserving identity layer, especially as more online services like dating platforms require age validation. It explained:

“Given many sites and services require age verification, we wanted to develop a system that not only verifies age, but does it in a way that protects your privacy.”

Zero-knowledge proofs are cryptographic tools that allow one party to confirm a fact to another without revealing the underlying data.

Notably, ZKPs are already used in blockchain ecosystems such as Cardano and Ethereum to enable private transactions, identity verification, and scalable solutions. Vitalik Buterin, Ethereum’s co-founder, has also highlighted their potential in areas like tamper-proof voting, supply chain tracking, and data security.

Meanwhile, Google’s adoption of ZKPs has received praise from the crypto community, many of whom see it as validation for a technology long championed in the blockchain space.

Rob Viglione, co-founder of Horizen Labs, told CryptoSlate that Google’s move is “a clear signal that privacy-driven innovations are becoming mainstream and that zero-knowledge will become one of crypto’s most transformative use cases [that benefits] everyday users.

He added:

“It’s exciting to see leading companies recognize that privacy shouldn’t be a luxury or an afterthought; it should be a default.”

Mentioned in this article
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Aztec's StealthNote Uses Zero-Knowledge Proof to Let Employees Go Incognito https://earlybirdsinvest.com/aztecs-stealthnote-uses-zero-knowledge-proof-to-let-employees-go-incognito/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/aztecs-stealthnote-uses-zero-knowledge-proof-to-let-employees-go-incognito/#respond Thu, 17 Apr 2025 10:50:57 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/aztecs-stealthnote-uses-zero-knowledge-proof-to-let-employees-go-incognito/

Aztec, a team building privacy tools on Ethereum
ETH


$1,591.54

, has introduced a new platform called StealthNote.

The app is designed for employees who want to share thoughts or concerns about their workplace without revealing their identity. Instead of asking for names or personal details, it checks if the person has access to a company email address, without exposing that address.

This is done through a method called zero-knowledge proof, which allows someone to confirm they have certain information without actually showing it.

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StealthNote verifies a user’s connection to a company domain through their Google login token. Aztec developer Saleel Pichen explained in a April 14 post on X that the platform creates a zero-knowledge proof based on that token, which confirms the user is part of a specific company.

Since the first test message on February 1, people from the Ethereum Foundation, StarkWare, Scroll, and universities like Columbia and Cornell have tried the app.

Most of the posts have been short greetings or messages supporting privacy tools. One user from CoinFund wrote, “Give me a zk proof, and I shall anon for a day. Teach me to zk prove, and I shall anon for a lifetime”.

Meanwhile, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently posted on Warpcast about the value of apps built on Ethereum. What did he say? Read the full story.

Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era.
With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers.
Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it, and make it more approachable to complete beginners.
Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets, and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends, and looking for the next supernova.


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Did DHS Meet Bitcoin’s Founders? FOIA Lawsuit Seeks Proof https://earlybirdsinvest.com/did-dhs-meet-bitcoins-founders-foia-lawsuit-seeks-proof/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/did-dhs-meet-bitcoins-founders-foia-lawsuit-seeks-proof/#respond Tue, 08 Apr 2025 11:27:19 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/did-dhs-meet-bitcoins-founders-foia-lawsuit-seeks-proof/

James Murphy, an American lawyer, has taken legal steps to learn whether a federal agency once met with people behind the creation of Bitcoin
BTC


$79,272.46

.

Murphy filed a case against the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), asking the agency to release records that might confirm such a meeting took place.

The request is based on a statement made in 2019 by DHS Special Agent Rana Saoud.

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During a talk at the OffshoreAlert Conference North America, Saoud said her team had traveled to California and spoken with four individuals who they believed helped create Bitcoin. She mentioned that they wanted to understand why Bitcoin was made and what the long-term plan behind it was.

Saoud also explained that her team found out the project’s creator was not working alone and that three other people were also involved.

Murphy’s lawsuit, filed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), asks the agency to share any documents, emails, or notes that came from that reported meeting, according to his X’s post on April 7.

He added that if the meeting really happened, there should be a clear record of it. If no such record is found, it may suggest that the agents met with the wrong people or were mistaken about who they spoke to.

Meanwhile, Representative Maxine Waters recently raised concerns about President Donald Trump’s growing ties to cryptocurrency. What did she say? Read the full story.

Having completed a Master’s degree in Economics, Politics, and Cultures of the East Asia region, Aaron has written scientific papers analyzing the differences between Western and Collective forms of capitalism in the post-World War II era.
With close to a decade of experience in the FinTech industry, Aaron understands all of the biggest issues and struggles that crypto enthusiasts face. He’s a passionate analyst who is concerned with data-driven and fact-based content, as well as that which speaks to both Web3 natives and industry newcomers.
Aaron is the go-to person for everything and anything related to digital currencies. With a huge passion for blockchain & Web3 education, Aaron strives to transform the space as we know it, and make it more approachable to complete beginners.
Aaron has been quoted by multiple established outlets, and is a published author himself. Even during his free time, he enjoys researching the market trends, and looking for the next supernova.


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Berachain launches Proof of Liquidity to redefine block rewards distribution https://earlybirdsinvest.com/berachain-launches-proof-of-liquidity-to-redefine-block-rewards-distribution/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/berachain-launches-proof-of-liquidity-to-redefine-block-rewards-distribution/#respond Mon, 24 Mar 2025 18:31:03 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/berachain-launches-proof-of-liquidity-to-redefine-block-rewards-distribution/

Berachain activated its long-anticipated Proof of Liquidity (PoL) system on March 24, a new incentive framework to redefine block rewards distribution.

The network’s native token, BERA, was up 16% over the past 24 hours and trading at $7.89 as of press time.

The rollout introduced 37 reward vaults, now live on the blockchain. These vaults are smart contracts eligible to receive BGT emissions, which protocols can use to distribute rewards to users. 

According to the official Berachain announcement, vault incentives will become claimable by March 25, and emissions will ramp to full annual percentage yield (APY) over the next three days. This marks a reduction from the previous seven-day timeline.

In less than two months, Berachain became the fifth-largest blockchain by total value locked, reaching $5.3 billion. 

PoL framework and incentives

The PoL mechanism operates through a dual-token model. Validators stake BERA for chain security and rewards, while investors use BGT for governance and block reward allocation. 

Under the new framework, validators receive BGT emissions based on their delegated BGT boost percentage. These emissions are then directed to the reward vaults of the validator’s choosing, enabling protocols to use those emissions as user incentives.

This distribution layer adds flexibility to Berachain’s validator economics. The blockchain incentivizes validators to direct emissions to maximize the protocol-provided incentives they receive efficiently. 

As new vaults come online, users supplying liquidity to various protocols — whether through staking, swapping, or yield farming — can earn BGT by staking receipt tokens.

Berachain’s validator set is limited to the top 69 validators by staked BERA, with a minimum entry requirement of 250,000 BERA and a cap of 10 million BERA. The probability of proposing a block within the active set is proportional to the validator’s stake. 

When selected, validators receive a fixed base reward and a variable BGT reward, depending on their relative boost level.

Competing to attract liquidity

The launch of Proof of Liquidity marks a structural shift in Berachain’s economic design by aligning block reward issuance with application usage and user engagement through a live, real-time incentive layer.

As a result of the new rewards framework, protocols within the Berachain ecosystem will now compete to attract liquidity by offering compelling vault incentives.

These protocols effectively bid for validator-directed emissions, refreshed every five hours based on updated validator allocations. 

Berachain has also created the BeraHub, which gives participants transparency in the rewards flow and distribution by tracking emissions and vaults in real time.

Decentralized application teams are integrating all metadata associated with the vaults, including token logos and pool names, as part of the broader deployment process. 

 

XRP Turbo
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KGeN’s Proof of Gamer: Empowering Player Identities and Data Ownership https://earlybirdsinvest.com/kgens-proof-of-gamer-empowering-player-identities-and-data-ownership/ https://earlybirdsinvest.com/kgens-proof-of-gamer-empowering-player-identities-and-data-ownership/#respond Tue, 04 Mar 2025 16:26:07 +0000 https://earlybirdsinvest.com/kgens-proof-of-gamer-empowering-player-identities-and-data-ownership/

It’s no secret that internet users, including gamers, have grown wary of big tech companies profiting from their personal data. For the longest time, people just accepted it: they’d sign up for a service, click “I agree,” and assume their data was part of the bargain. Lately, though, there’s been a shift in thinking—especially among gamers, who spend countless hours online creating valuable digital footprints.

That’s where the Kratos Gaming Network (KGeN) comes into play. Rather than leaving data ownership solely in the hands of developers or platform owners, KGeN aims to give gamers direct control over how their information is used and monetized.

It’s a framework that could shake up more than just gaming circles, because it implies a future in which users hold the reins—and companies respect that. But to see how it all works, it helps to get a sense of KGeN’s core technology and community approach.

An Overview of KGeN

KGeN describes itself as a “gamer-owned reputation engine.” That might sound like marketing lingo, but it’s actually pretty straightforward: each player creates data whenever they engage with a game, make a purchase, or interact with fellow gamers.

Instead of a faceless corporation scooping up all that info, KGeN stores it in a way that they say respects user rights. This approach lines up with a growing demand for transparency in a world where apps and platforms seem to hoard personal details behind the scenes.

Why start with gaming communities? Gamers, by their nature, are highly interactive. They build friendships through guilds and Clans, spend real money on virtual items, and master complex gameplay mechanics. Each of these actions generates valuable data.

KGeN considers players vas stakeholders in the data economy, rewarding them for participation and giving them actual control. Anyone familiar with how big gaming has become—worth over $200 billion globally—can see that this shift might have far-reaching effects on user empowerment and monetization models.

Source KGeN

The P.O.G Engine (Proof of Gamer)

The backbone of KGeN is its P.O.G Engine, which stands for Proof of Gamer. While many traditional systems merely track things like hours played or items purchased, the P.O.G Engine digs deeper into different facets of a gamer’s identity.

It collects over 100 attributes per user, painting a detailed picture of individual skills, spending habits, social connections, and more. Yet KGeN also prioritizes privacy, letting gamers decide which of these attributes stay private (off-chain) and which go on-chain for public verification.

The Five Pillars of POG

POG stands on five pillars that shape your ever-evolving Proof of Gamer score:

  • Build Proof of Human by linking social handles and completing biometrics.

  • Elevate Proof of Skill through higher leaderboard ranks on KGeN and Steam.

  • Increase Proof of Play by completing more K-Quests and K-Drop campaigns.

  • Enhance Proof of Commerce by shopping on the KStore and Steam.

  • Boost Proof of Social by staying active on platforms like X, Discord, and Telegram.

P.O.G.s: Your On-Chain Gamer Identity

In the KGeN platform, a P.O.G. (Proof of Gamer) is an on-chain digital identity that represents a gamer’s profile and reputation across various games and platforms. By minting a P.O.G. NFT, players can bring all their achievements, skills, and activities together in one verifiable place. The NFTs are designed as Soulbound Tokens (SBTs), meaning they are unique and non-transferable.

Since its launch, the P.O.G. initiative has taken off, with more than 1 million P.O.G.s minted in over 100 countries. This global adoption shows how eager players are to build trusted gaming identities and how committed the platform is to uniting gamers around the world.

Data Governance and Gamer Rights

KGeN’s dedication to user empowerment isn’t just talk—it’s built right into the platform’s data governance. The network holds user information under a framework designed to protect individuals and give them fair benefits. Gamers can decide:

  • What to Share: They choose which data remains private and which gets publicly verified on-chain.

  • How to Monetize: They can opt in or out of letting certain publishers or advertisers see specific parts of their profile.

  • Where to Take It: They have a “right to port,” which means they can move their data to other ecosystems if they find a better fit.

Source KGeN

Engagement Features on KGeN

KGeN’s real strength shines through the gaming features it offers, making the platform lively and rewarding for casual players and die-hard enthusiasts with tons of games to play.

Quests Arena

Quests Arena personalizes the user experience with tasks called K-Quests. Gamers might need to accomplish a special achievement in a partnered title or promote a new game on social media. In return, they earn points or in-platform rewards. Meanwhile, developers gain a way to funnel motivated players into their games, often for less cost than typical ad campaigns.

K-Drops

K-Drop is a dynamic feature in the KGeN (Kratos Gamer Network) Web3 gaming platform that motivates players to complete social and gaming tasks in exchange for K-Points. Usually part of limited-time events, these tasks help spark excitement across the community and drive platform growth.

Clans

Clans are essentially mini-communities where gamers who share similar preferences—maybe they love the same titles or live in the same region—form a Clan. They collaborate on quests, split rewards, and learn from each other.

Source KGeN

rKGEN: The Rewards Token

One of KGeN’s more exciting features is rKGEN, a reward token that can be exchanged 1:1 for the platform’s main $KGEN token after its Token Generation Event (a specific date for this is yet to be announced). The idea is simple: gamers collect K-Points by completing tasks (Quests, campaigns, or gaming activities), and these points later convert into rKGEN.

Though rKGEN isn’t transferrable, the promise of eventually swapping it for $KGEN is a push to reward gamers with what they are calling a ‘fairdrop’. The platform also plans to introduce staking options, letting gamers potentially increase their rewards before the TGE.

Final Thoughts

If the platform proves that gamers are open to a more transparent, user-owned data model, it could spark similar changes in other corners of the internet. That alone makes KGeN a fascinating project, especially as discussions around data privacy and monetization grow more heated daily.

For now, it’s enough to say that KGeN offers a refreshing alternative for gamers tired of feeling like someone else always owns the value they create and are looking for new gaming experiences.

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