DeFi
New EU regulations pose risk to future of decentralization
New European Union regulations could soon force decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols to face important decisions. At the center of this problem is the tendency of many DeFi protocols to use centralized front-ends and intermediaries, raising questions about their compliance with upcoming laws.
The impact of MiCA on DeFi protocols
The European Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) Regulation, which is expected to come into full force by the end of 2024, requires DeFi protocols to adhere to the same licensing and know-your-customer (KYC) requirements as traditional financial services. This could present a significant challenge for many DeFi protocols, potentially making compliance difficult or undesirable. Rune Christensen, co-founder of MakerDAO, highlighted the implications of MiCA, noting that DeFi protocols would be left with two main options: fully decentralized, local, uploaded frontends or fully KYC-compliant online frontends.
This regulatory change forces DeFi protocols to choose between a somewhat centralized “hybrid finance” (HyFi) model to comply with EU regulations or complete decentralization. The EU regulation states that fully decentralized protocols are exempt from MiCA requirements, as stated in recital 22: “Where crypto-asset services are provided in a fully decentralized manner without any intermediaries, they should not enter into the scope of this regulation. »
Defining decentralization
Oliver Völkel, lawyer and partner at Stadler Völkel, has studied European regulation of crypto assets in depth. He points out that the regulation raises immediate questions about the definitions of “without intermediary” and “in a completely decentralized manner”. According to Völkel, smart contracts used to provide services on cryptoassets do not necessarily create the appearance of exclusive decentralization, as companies can use these contracts to provide services on their behalf.
Only natural and legal persons can have rights and obligations, make and receive legal representations and be subject to laws such as MiCA. However, Völkel believes that European lawmakers rightly recognize that none of these conditions apply if a crypto-asset service is accessible without intermediaries in a completely decentralized manner. With MiCA coming into force by the end of 2024, DeFi protocols in Europe must decide whether to be completely decentralized, thereby avoiding regulations, or implement KYC measures like any other centralized financial service provider.
Nathan Catania, partner at XReg Consulting, a firm specializing in regulation of crypto-assets, suggests that this regulatory wave could divide the DeFi sector. He believes that regulation represents a crucial moment for many DeFi projects, pushing them to either embrace complete decentralization and operate outside of regulatory boundaries, or accept some level of regulation and transition to a hybrid financial model.
Practical steps for decentralization
For those choosing decentralization, MiCA will provide clearer guidance on building truly decentralized applications that comply with regulatory requirements. Many DeFi protocols will need to reevaluate their business models to ensure they remain compliant. Catania advises DeFi projects to fully understand the regulations and engage with national regulatory authorities to protect their interests. A workaround to ensure decentralization is to decentralize website front-ends through peer-to-peer (P2P) web hosting, which uses advanced cryptography to deploy websites on P2P servers.
Whatever path a protocol chooses, regulation becomes an unavoidable reality. Proponents of decentralization could see DeFi evolving into something closer to traditional finance, the very industry they originally aimed to disrupt. The question remains whether the industry will thrive in a decentralized digital universe or whether the influx of capital from traditional market players will transform the sector.
Growing Regulatory Attention on DeFi
As the DeFi sector matures and gains popularity, regulators are paying increased attention to it, as evidenced by the actions of the EU’s MiCA and the US Securities and Exchange Commission against major DeFi protocols. On April 10, 2024, Uniswap became the first decentralized protocol to receive a Wells Notice, indicating regulatory violations.
Hayden Adams, CEO of Uniswap, expressed his frustration, feeling “annoyed, disappointed and ready for a fight.” Adam Simmons, chief strategy officer of DeFi platform Radix, believes some safeguards are necessary, predicting that regulatory requirements for DeFi are inevitable, especially if the sector aims for global adoption.
Today @Uniswap The labs received a Wells Notice from the SEC.
I’m not surprised. Just annoyed, disappointed and ready to fight.
I am confident that the products we offer are legal and that our work is on the right side of history. But it has been clear for a while that rather than…
– hayden.eth 🦄 (@haydenzadams) April 10, 2024
Edward Adlard, CEO of Instalabs, sees the next stage of DeFi evolution as attract money from institutional and traditional finance. However, he identifies two main obstacles: traditional financial companies are not operationally equipped to use crypto tools, and they must figure out how to legally access and offer these products to their customers. Adlard suggests that DeFi DApps must balance implementing anti-money laundering (AML) procedures to attract traditional financial liquidity without becoming targets for regulatory action.
Compliance and future adaptation tools
Compliance tools are already available. Simmons mentions that the DeFi sector in Europe could use a system of trusted issuers to handle identity verification independently. Adlard notes that the DeFi KYC service Instapass could create personalized credentials that comply with EU regulations, allowing DeFi DApps to restrict access to specific parts of their products based on user credentials.
Ultimately, whether a DeFi protocol aims for institutional adoption or full decentralization, it must adapt to the changing legal landscape of the European Union.
DeFi
Pump.Fun is revolutionizing the Ethereum blockchain in terms of daily revenue
The memecoin launchpad saw the largest daily revenue in all of DeFi over the past 24 hours.
Memecoin launchpad Pump.Fun has recorded the highest gross revenue in all of decentralized finance (DeFi) in the last 24 hours, surpassing even Ethereum.
The platform has raised $867,429 in the past 24 hours, compared to $844,276 for Ethereum, according to DeFiLlama. Solana-based Telegram trading bot Trojan was the third-highest revenue generator of the day, as memecoin infrastructure continues to dominate in DeFi.
Pump.Fun generates $315 million in annualized revenue according to DeFiLlama, and has averaged $906,160 per day over the past week.
Income Ranking – Source: DeFiLlama
The memecoin frenzy of the past few months is behind Pump.fun’s dominance. Solana-based memecoins have been the main drug of choice for on-chain degenerates.
The app allows non-technical users to launch their own tokens in minutes. Users can spend as little as $2 to launch their token and are not required to provide liquidity up front. Pump.Fun allows new tokens to trade along a bonding curve until they reach a set market cap of around $75,000, after which the bonding curve will then be burned on Raydium to create a safe liquidity pool.
Pump.Fun generates revenue through accrued fees. The platform charges a 1% fee on transactions that take place on the platform. Once a token is bonded and burned on Raydium, Pump.fun is no longer able to charge the 1% fee.
Ethereum is the blockchain of the second-largest cryptocurrency, Ether, with a market cap of $395 billion. It powers hundreds of applications and thousands of digital assets, and backs over $60 billion in value in smart contracts.
Ethereum generates revenue when users pay fees, called gas and denominated in ETH, to execute transactions and smart contracts.
DeFi
DeFi technologies will improve trading desk with zero-knowledge proofs
DeFi Technologies, a Canadian company financial technology companyis set to enhance its trading infrastructure through a new partnership with Zero Computing, according to a July 30 statement shared with CryptoSlate.
The collaboration aims to integrate zero-knowledge proof tools to boost operations on the Solana And Ethereum blockchains by optimizing its ability to identify and execute arbitrage opportunities.
Additionally, it will improve the performance of its DeFi Alpha trading desk by enhancing its use of ZK-enabled maximum extractable value (MEV Strategies).
Zero knowledge Proof of concept (ZKP) technology provides an additional layer of encryption to ensure transaction confidentiality and has recently been widely adopted in cryptographic applications.
Optimization of trading strategies
DeFi Technologies plans to use these tools to refine DeFi Alpha’s ability to spot low-risk arbitrage opportunities. The trading desk has already generated nearly $100 million in revenue this year, and this new partnership is expected to further enhance its algorithmic strategies and market analysis capabilities.
Zero Computing technology will integrate ZKP’s advanced features into DeFi Alpha’s infrastructure. This upgrade will streamline trading processes, improve transaction privacy, and increase operational efficiency.
According to DeFi Technologies, these improvements will increase the security and sophistication of DeFi Alpha’s trading strategies.
The collaboration will also advance commercial approaches for ZK-enabled MEVs, a new concept in Motor vehicles which focuses on maximizing value through transaction fees and arbitrage opportunities within block production.
Additionally, DeFi Technologies plans to leverage Zero Computing technology to develop new financial products, such as zero-knowledge index exchange-traded products (ETPs).
Olivier Roussy Newton, CEO of DeFi Technologies, said:
“By integrating their cutting-edge zero-knowledge technology, we not only improve the efficiency and privacy of our transactions, but we also pave the way for innovative trading strategies.”
Extending Verifiable Computing to Solana
According to the release, Zero Computing has created a versatile, chain-agnostic platform for generating zero-knowledge proofs. The platform currently supports Ethereum and Solana, and the company plans to expand compatibility with other blockchains in the future.
The company added that it is at the forefront of introducing verifiable computation to the Solana blockchain, enabling complex computations to be executed off-chain with on-chain verification. This development represents a significant step in the expansion of ZKPs across various blockchain ecosystems.
Mentioned in this article
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DeFi
Elastos’ BeL2 Secures Starknet Grant to Advance Native Bitcoin Lending and DeFi Solutions
Singapore, Asia, July 29, 2024, Chainwire
- Elastos BeL2 to Partner with StarkWare to Integrate Starknet’s ZKPs and Cairo Programming Language with BeL2 for Native DeFi Applications
- Starknet integration allows BeL2 to provide smart contracts and dapps without moving Bitcoin assets off the mainnet
- Starknet Exchange Validates the Strength of BeL2’s Innovation and Leadership in the Native Bitcoin Ecosystem
Elastos BeL2 (Bitcoin Elastos Layer2) has secured a $25,000 grant from Starknet, a technology leader in the field of zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs). This significant approval highlights the Elastos BeL2 infrastructure and its critical role in advancing Bitcoin-native DeFi, particularly Bitcoin-native lending. By integrating Starknet’s ZKPs and the Cairo programming language, Elastos’ BeL2 will enhance its ability to deliver smart contracts and decentralized applications (dapps) without moving Bitcoin (BTC) assets off the mainnet. This strategic partnership with Starknet demonstrates the growing acceptance and maturity of the BeL2 infrastructure, reinforcing Elastos’ commitment to market leadership in the evolving Bitcoin DeFi market.
Starknet, developed by StarkWare, is known for its advancements in ZKP technology, which improves the privacy and security of blockchain transactions. ZKPs allow one party to prove to another that a statement is true without revealing any information beyond the validity of the statement itself. This technology is fundamental to the evolution of blockchain networks, which will improve BeL2’s ability to integrate complex smart contracts while preserving the integrity and security of Bitcoin.
“We are thrilled to receive this grant from Starknet and announce our partnership to build tighter integrations with its ZKP technology and the Cairo programming language,” said Sasha Mitchell, Head of Bitcoin Layer 2 at Elastos. “This is a major milestone for BeL2 and a true recognition of the maturity and capabilities of our core technology. This support will allow us to further develop our innovation in native Bitcoin lending as we look to capitalize on the growing acceptance of Bitcoin as a viable alternative financial system.”
A closer integration with Cairo will allow BeL2 to leverage this powerful programming language to enhance Bitcoin’s capabilities and deliver secure, efficient, and scalable decentralized finance (DeFi) applications. Specifically, the relationship with Cairo reinforces BeL2’s core technical innovations, including:
- ZKPs ensure secure and private verification of transactions
- Decentralized Arbitrage Using Collateralized Nodes to Supervise and Enforce Fairness in Native Bitcoin DeFi
- BTC Oracle (NYSE:) facilitates cross-chain interactions where information, not assets, is exchanged while Bitcoin remains on the main infrastructure
BeL2’s vision goes beyond technical innovation and aims to innovate by creating a new financial system. The goal is to build a Bitcoin-backed Bretton Woods system, address global debt crises, and strengthen Bitcoin’s role as a global hard currency. This new system will be anchored in the integrity and security of Bitcoin, providing a stable foundation for decentralized financial applications.
As integration with Starknet and the Cairo programming language continues, BeL2 will deliver further advancements in smart contract capabilities, decentralized arbitration, and innovative financial products. At Token 2049, BeL2 will showcase further innovations in its core technologies, including arbitrators, that will underscore Elastos’ vision for a fairer decentralized financial system rooted in Bitcoin.
About Elastos
Elastos is a public blockchain project that integrates blockchain technology with a suite of redesigned platform components to produce a modern Internet infrastructure that provides intrinsic privacy and ownership protection for digital assets. The mission is to create open source services that are accessible to the world, so developers can create an Internet where individuals own and control their data.
The Elastos SmartWeb platform enables organizations to recalibrate how the Internet operates to better control their own data.
https://www.linkedin.com/company/elastosinfo/
ContactPublic Relations ManagerRoger DarashahElastosroger.darashah@elastoselavation.org
DeFi
Compound Agrees to Distribute 30% of Reserves to COMP Shareholders to End Alleged Attack on Its Governance
Compound will introduce the staking program in exchange for Humpy, a notorious whale accused of launching a governance attack on the protocol, negating a recently adopted governance proposal.
Compound is launching a new staking program for COMP holders as a compromise with Humpy, a notorious DeFi whale accused of launching a governance attack against the veteran DeFi protocol.
On July 29, Bryan Colligan, head of business development at Compound, published a governance proposal outlining plans for a new compound participation product that would pay 30% of the project’s current and future reserves to COMP participants.
Colligan noted that the program was requested by Humpy in exchange for his agreement Proposition 289 — which sought to invest 499,000 COMP worth approximately $24 million into a DeFi vault controlled by Humpy, and which appears to have been forced by Humpy and his associates over the weekend.
“We propose the following staking product that meets Humpy’s stated interests as a recent new delegate and holder of COMP in exchange for the repeal of Proposition 289 due to the governance risks it poses to the protocol,” Colligan said. “The Compound Growth Program…will execute the above commitments, given the immediate repeal of Proposition 289.”
Colligan added that the proposal would expire at 11:59 p.m. EST on July 29. Had Humpy not rescinded Proposition 289, Compound would move forward with it. Proposition 290 — block Humpy using the Compound team’s multi-sig to deploy a new governor contract removing the delegate’s governance power behind Proposition 289.
Hunchback tweeted that Proposition 289 had been repealed a few hours ago. “Glad to have brought Compound Finance back into the spotlight,” they said. added. “StakedComp… finally becomes a yield-generating asset!
Markets reacted favorably to the resolution, with the price of COMP increasing by 6.2% over the past 24 hours, according to CoinGecko.
Attack on governance
Proposition 289 proposed investing 499,000 COMP from the Compound treasury into goldCOMP, a yield-generating vault of the Humpy-linked Golden Boys team.
The proposal passed with nearly 52 percent of the vote on July 28, despite two previous iterations of the proposal being defeated by strong opposition. Can And JulyThe proposals notably asked for only 92,000 COMP, with security researchers warning that any deposit of tokens into the goldCOMP vault would cede their governance power.
In May, Michael Lewellen of Web3 security firm OpenZeppelin, note The first proposal was submitted by a new governance delegate who was suddenly awarded 228,000 COMP by five wallets that got their tokens from the Bybit exchange. Combined with his own tokens, the delegate got 325,333 COMP, which is over 81% of the 400,000 tokens required for a governance proposal to reach quorum.
“We have been alerting the community to the risk that these delegates could support a potential attack on governance,” Lewellen said. “The timing of the new proposal and these recent delegations are suspect.”
Read more: Compound community accuses famous whale of attacking engineering governance
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