We are back and now fully focused on prediction markets. Momentum is building. New platforms, new ideas and much more attention is coming into the space. We will be tracking the companies and developments in real time.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has extended its review of more than two dozen ETFs originally expected to launch this week. Filings from Bitwise Asset Management, Roundhill Investments, and GraniteShares aim to package event-driven contracts into retail friendly products. The SEC is requesting additional clarity on product mechanics, risk disclosures and market structure. Under current rules these ETFs would have become effective after a 75-day review period which was set to expire this week before the delay.

According to @PolymarketDevs Polymarket will be introducing deposit wallets for new API users today. The update requires API users to pre-fund balances which on one end will be enabling faster and more reliable execution. On the other end this should lead to overall fewer failed transactions and potentially reduce “ghost fills” which has been a nightmare for Polymarket users.

Baidu bolsters AI lineup with text-to-image generator, no-code app builder China's Baidu Inc, opens new tab unveiled a slew of new applications for its artificial intelligence technology on Tuesday, including a text-to-image generator and a tool that enables users to develop software applications without coding expertise. The country's leading search engine company is among tech firms shifting their focus to the commercialization of large language model (LLM) applications after nearly two years of heavy investment in research and development in models that they tout as alternatives to OpenAI's GPT. At the annual Baidu World Conference, CEO Robin Li introduced I-RAG, a text-to-image technology that leverages Baidu's search capabilities to address the "hallucination" issue, referring to the generation of images that deviate from the input text or contain non-existent elements. Li said the company's Ernie platform now handles 1.5 billion user queries and interactions daily, a significant increase from the 200 million daily requests reported in May. These interactions include tasks such as generating text, answering questions, and assisting with various applications utilizing AI. Baidu's commercialization efforts have largely revolved around its AI agents, which allow users to create their own applications. The company has also integrated the technology into its existing product lineup and offering it to external users via its cloud services. Baidu also unveiled a pair of glasses featuring a built-in AI assistant, developed by it hardware division, Xiaodu. The gadget is equipped with cameras to capture photos and videos and supports voice interactions powered by Ernie. The company is not aiming to create a "super app" based on AI, Li said, signalling a divergence in strategy from other companies such as ByteDance, which has launched multiple standalone AI apps this year. Baidu(@Baidu_Inc) also introduced Miaoda, which utilizes its LLM capabilities to generate code, allowing users to develop software applications without extensive coding expertise. #Baidu #AI Credit: Reuters

Avara Unveils Family Wallet, A Comprehensive Crypto Solution Avara, the company behind Aave Labs and Lens, has announced the launch of Family Wallet, a secure and feature-rich non-custodial crypto wallet, now available for free on the iOS App Store. Family Wallet is designed for beginners and seasoned crypto enthusiasts, offering a seamless experience with web3 interactions, including decentralized finance, collectibles, games, and more. As a non-custodial Ethereum wallet, it ensures that users maintain complete control over their assets, private keys, and sensitive data. Family Wallet introduces users to Pocket, a self-custody account service that enables wallet set up using an email or phone number and a passkey or password. Alternatively, users can opt for the traditional method by manually backing up their secret recovery phrase or using iCloud. The wallet supports rich-media collectibles, allowing users to view art, play videos, and listen to music directly within the app. Users can conveniently access decentralized applications and web3-enabled sites with an in-app browser, complete with tab management and bookmark features. Additionally, users can pair their wallet with a scanner to access dApps on a desktop. Family users can engage with various features such as crypto swaps, powered by Stripe, and the Refuel Wallet function, which allows quick bridging of funds from Ethereum mainnet to supported Layer 2 networks. Family Wallet also includes a messaging function, enabling users to connect with friends through chats supporting images, videos, audio, reactions, and transferring crypto and collectibles. "Our goal is to provide the best wallet for transactions and expand access to the world of web3, where the next wave of innovative web applications will thrive," stated Avara(@avara) Founder and CEO Stani Kulechov (@StaniKulechov). "Family offers a superior experience and a secure gateway to a host of new benefits that come with decentralized blockchain applications." Beyond basic transactions like sending, receiving, and swapping crypto assets, Family is optimized for speed and performance. It caters to DeFi power users with advanced features such as transaction simulations, Flashbots protection, approval management, gas refueling, and comprehensive backup management. Users can swap thousands of tokens and transact on various Ethereum Layer 2 networks like Optimism, Base, Arbitrum, and zkSync, with plans to support additional networks. Family Wallet allows users to monitor transaction status through real-time updates, notifications, and smooth animations. Users can also manage their wallets easily, view activity logs, and organize tokens and collectibles according to their preferences. Emphasizing thoughtful design, Family Wallet offers an intuitive interface that is enjoyable for new and advanced users. "Family is built for everyone, focusing on design-first details that make it both delightful and easy to use," said Benji Taylor, Avara Chief Product Officer and founder of Family. Security is paramount, and Family Wallet has undergone thorough audits by the top security firm Zellic before its release. User keys are encrypted and stored locally on the device in manual mode, while Pocket users’ encrypted wallets are securely stored on the Pocket server. Two-step authentication via biometrics is required for sensitive actions, and the wallet provides transaction warnings and simulations to help users avoid potential risks. Credit: KoreaitTimes

Orderly Network Expands to Avalanche, Boosting Cross-Chain Liquidity Access Orderly Network, a provider of cloud liquidity infrastructure, has introduced Avalanche. Designed to have an exceptionally high-performance blockchain architecture, Avalanche enables efficient deployment of decentralized applications (dApps) and specific blockchain ecosystems. This integration will help traders on the Avalanche to easily engage directly with the users in other blockchain networks; this will add depth to the trading on both EVM and non- EVM chains. Avalanche(@avax) handles over 4,500 TPS, with every transaction being processed in under two seconds. The native consensus mechanism labelled Avalanche is efficient in delivering fast, secure, and low-energy transaction solutions. Orderly has been developed to have efficient and fast trading experiences through the Avalanche ecosystem. Orderly Network’s cloud integrates all orders across supported chains, creating a single liquidity pool with greater depth. Traders benefit from enhanced trading efficiency, ensuring access to liquidity across the Orderly multi-chain ecosystem. Unified Liquidity Infrastructure Benefits Avalanche Ecosystem The chain structure of Orderly(@OrderlyNetwork) built based on the OP Stack comprises Celestia’s data availability and the LayerZero cross-chain messaging layer acting as the payment layer for cross-chain transactions. This setup reduces cross-chain bridges, providing a safe environment for trading.  This expansion highlights Orderly Network’s commitment to providing a broader, secure, and efficient trading environment.  #Orderly is empowering more traders and developers to engage with a diverse, cross-chain trading ecosystem. Orderly set new standards for liquidity access, security, and trading efficiency across the DeFi space, driving forward innovation in cross-chain trading solutions. #OrderlyNetwork #Avalanche $Avax Credit: Blockchain Reporter

DWF Labs Teams Up with UCLA on Tokenized Securities Education DWF Labs, one of the top market makers in the crypto space, has been selected as the case study in UCLA Blockchain Faculty’s book, The STO Financial Revolution. This latest edition by faculty member and author Alex Nascimento. The book aims to equip learners, practitioners, and decision-makers to understand tokenized securities and liquidity management within Security Token Offerings (STOs). DWF Labs Case Study Brings Practical Insights to Academia The DWF Labs case study, as the core of this textbook, is aimed at providing readers with knowledge of the practicalities of STO management and digital assets. Discussing DWF Labs’ market-making and liquidity management activities. The case study complies with the book’s purpose of providing readers with tools when operating in the STO environment. In addition, this guide has been developed by Alex Nascimento, a co-founder of Blockchain at #UCLA, to link knowledge and practice and become the gold standard of STO-focused courses. Supporting Industry Growth Through Knowledge Sharing Andrei Grachev, the Managing Partner at DWF Labs, as they get a chance to invest in building the future leaders in the tokenized market. Through guest lectures, DWF Labs aims to help students and working professionals understand key issues in the dynamic STO market. Alex Nascimento highlighted market makers as significant providers in the cryptocurrency industry. As per Nascimento, such market-making companies are DWF Labs, which keeps the assets highly liquid and allows for constant trading, providing market stability and productivity. Such ideas are particularly relevant to contemporary students, stock market participants, and those planning to start businesses in a modern digital environment. Credit: Blockchain Reporter

Lightspeed Studios launches new Japan game dev studio led by Hideaki Itsuno Lightspeed Studios, a division of Tencent, said that it has established Lightspeed Japan Studio, a new game development studio headed by game director Hideaki Itsuno. The studio will be focused on the development of original triple-A action game titles, marking a major step in Lightspeed Studios global expansion. The new studio will have offices in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. Itsuno was born in Osaka, and he is the former Capcom veteran, where he not only planned the Street Fighter Alpha series, but also directed franchises series such as Rival Schools, Power Stone, Capcom VS. SNK, Devil May Cry, and Dragon’s Dogma. “It is our great honor to have Hideaki Itsuno join Lightspeed Studios,” said Jerry Chen, president of Lightspeed Studios, in a statement. “The establishment of LightSpeed Japan Studio is a significant step in Lightspeed Studios’ expansion and demonstrates our commitment to bringing the best possible games to our players.” LightSpeed Japan Studio will offer a flexible and inclusive working environment. The studio is designed to foster innovation by integrating multi-platform, cross-device technologies, creating an environment where creativity and technical excellence thrive. The team will focus on pushing the boundaries of new game creation, continuously exploring new opportunities in gameplay and storytelling. “Joining Lightspeed Studios is an exciting new chapter for me. With LightSpeed’s strong development capability and global network, I look forward to creating original AAA action game titles together with the amazing team and building aesthetic and innovative experiences for the global player community. We welcome all talented and passionate game creators from the world over to join our vision,” said Itsuno, in a statement. The team is hiring. See here for available positions. Lightspeed Studios has created over 50 games across multiple platforms and genres for over 4 billion registered users. It is the co-developer of worldwide hit PUBG Mobile (co-developed with Krafton) and the developer of the upcoming open-world game, Last Sentinel. #LightSpeedStudios Credit: GameBeat

The Washington Post has an AI newsboy to answer all your questions The Washington Post has unveiled a new AI chatbot called "Ask The Post AI," which aims to answer user questions accurately by relying on the newspaper's content. The new AI chatbot follows the Climate Answers chatbot, which the publication released earlier this year. Unlike the climate journalism-focused Climate Answers, Ask the Post culls its answers from anything published since 2016. The AI uses algorithmic ranking to match answers to questions and ensure they are relevant. Like Climate Answers, the new AI chatbot enforces strict guardrails on how it responds. If there aren't any articles it defines as worth citing, it won't answer the question at all. That way, it avoids any compulsion by the AI to hallucinate or provide wrong answers. The AI will just say it can't answer at all. Interactive AI Journalism “This is the next chapter in building habits for our next generation of users,” Washington Post chief technology officer Vineet Khosla(@khosla_vin) explained in a blog post. “The changed search experience across the industry calls for us to meet the moment and meet audiences how, when and where they want to be served with an updated user experience.” "Ask The Post AI" arrives as The Washington Post has seen an uptick in interest from readers on its post-2016 coverage. The heightened reader engagement combined with new AI tools might serve to draw in and keep new readers as well. Along with Climate Answers, The Washington Post(@washingtonpost) has been testing several other AI tools, including AI-generated audio recordings of news articles and AI-written summaries of articles. There's an obvious appeal for streamlined information access that supplies reliable answers without long research in the archives. Similar tools will likely crop up at the intersection of AI and news media elsewhere. For instance, Meta and Reuters have partnered to supply Meta AI with information from Reuters articles. #AI #washingtonpost Credit: TechRadar

Infinex Collaborates with Near Foundation for the Integration of Chain Signatures Infinex, under the leadership of Synthetix founder Kain Warwick(@kain), has teamed up with the NEAR Foundation to integrate NEAR’s Chain Signatures into their decentralized exchange (DEX). This collaboration, announced via social media, enables users to sign transactions across various blockchains directly from their NEAR account, simplifying the interaction with cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Litecoin, which traditionally lack smart contract capabilities. Jed Watson, CTO of Infinex, highlighted that this integration not only maintains the transparency and security associated with smart contracts but also enhances user experience by allowing seamless transactions across different blockchain ecosystems. This partnership aims to bridge the gap between centralized and decentralized exchanges, offering users the benefits of self-custody without sacrificing usability. NEAR Foundation views this partnership as a strategic step towards advancing chain abstraction, a concept they've been promoting since 2018. This collaboration with Infinex is expected to significantly boost the accessibility and usability of DeFi, aligning with both platforms' missions to foster the growth of decentralized finance by making it more user-friendly and integrated across various blockchains. #NearFoundation #Near Credit: Blockchain Reporter

Ondo Finance Expands DeFi Access to US Treasuries Across Solana Ecosystem Ondo Finance is developing by offering tokenized US Treasuries on the Solana network to enhance the liquidity of the ecosystem in real-world assets(RWA) tokenization. Ondo seeks to combine DeFi’s experience with dollar-denominated assets, promoting the native yield and high compatibility with the Solana chain. Ondo Finance Expands Dollar-Based Options in DeFi Ondo is increasing demand for dollar-based assets within DeFi by providing Tokenized Treasuries on the Solana network(@solana). These tokenized Treasuries offer relatively high returns, enabling decentralized and connected DeFi to enter the Treasury market. The ability to move seamlessly across Solana’s vast network makes these tokens valid for users seeking reliable and flexible yields. Ondo Finance(@OndoFinance) is broadening DeFi user's asset choices and facilitating an accessible alternative to conventional dollar-denominated assets. Its solution allows users to hold tokenized treasuries that provide stability and yield without a complex setup. Navigating Regulatory Terrain for Tokenized Treasuries Due to regulations, Ondo’s tokenized treasuries remain unregistered under the US Securities Act 1933. Ondo’s move into tokenized Treasuries underscores DeFi’s potential to integrate traditional finance securely and transparently. Ondo’s tokenized US Treasuries reflect the future of real-world assets in decentralized finance through a mix of simplicity, flexibility, and interoperability Solana’s high-speed blockchain capabilities enhance the usability of these Treasury tokens, supporting Ondo’s goal to drive broad adoption of RWAs across decentralized platforms. The ability to use Ondo’s Treasuries in various DeFi applications underscores the utility and flexibility of blockchain-based real-world assets. As Ondo’s tokenized US Treasuries gain momentum on Solana, DeFi users are experiencing firsthand the benefits of accessible, dollar-denominated assets. #RWA #Tokenization #OndoFinance Credit: Blockchain Reporter