Ethereum’s supply has surged to levels not seen since before The Merge, now totaling 120,521,523 ETH, following the Dencun upgrade that reduced the burning of transaction fees. Experts warn that this inflation could threaten Ethereum’s security and price stability, as users migrate to other networks. Continued supply increases may undermine the network’s value, impacting its Proof-of-Stake model.
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News from KOR
Generated 15 posts last week OpenAI Partners with Kakao to Enhance AI Services in South Korea
Kakao Corp. has partnered with OpenAI, becoming the first South Korean tech firm to do so, aiming to integrate advanced AI models into its platforms like KakaoTalk and the AI assistant Kanana. This collaboration marks OpenAI’s strategic expansion into Asia, enhancing AI-driven innovation in a market with high digital adoption. The partnership also coincides with SoftBank’s plans to invest significantly in OpenAI, further solidifying the AI landscape in the region.
read moreTrump Imposes Tariffs as Canada and Mexico Respond with Retaliation
Investors brace for stock market declines as Canada and Mexico retaliate against new tariffs imposed by Trump, with technology stocks expected to be particularly affected. Canada will implement a 25% tariff on $155 billion of American goods, while Mexico’s response includes various measures. Economists warn that these tariffs could lead to increased consumer prices and a potential recession risk in Canada, as the interconnected nature of North American trade complicates competitiveness.
read moreBitcoin Bull Market Continues as Altcoins Evolve Over Next Five Years
CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju asserts that the Bitcoin bull market is not over, driven by strong demand for Bitcoin spot market ETFs. He anticipates that the market cycle will peak once this demand wanes, while predicting a significant shift in altcoin valuation over the next five years, moving from speculative assets to earnings-based evaluations.
read morePudgy Penguins Partners with LINE FRIENDS to Expand in Asia
Pudgy Penguins is expanding its brand presence in Asia through a partnership with LINE FRIENDS, integrating the popular Minini character into its NFT ecosystem. Despite launching its Layer-2 network, Abstract, in January 2025, the project faces challenges in gaining traction amid stiff competition in the market. Currently, Pudgy Penguins ranks fourth among NFT collections on Ethereum, with a market cap exceeding $347.89 million.
read moreIndia poised for record IPO year amid economic challenges
India is poised for a significant year in IPOs, with at least seven companies, including Groww and Pine Labs, aiming to raise over $1 billion each, despite a slowing economy. The total equity fundraising could exceed $23 billion in 2025, driven by strong domestic investor interest, even as foreign investments decline. However, concerns linger over the quality of recent listings and the economic backdrop, with the Nifty 100 index down 12% since September amid weak corporate earnings.
read moreApple’s Strong Profits Help Wall Street Recover from Early Week Losses
Apple’s stronger-than-expected profits helped Wall Street recover from earlier losses, with the S&P 500 up 0.7% and on track for a weekly gain. Meanwhile, Walgreens Boots Alliance dropped 7.5% after suspending its dividend, and Exxon Mobil’s shares fell 1.8% despite reporting a solid profit. Global markets showed mixed results, with Japan’s Nikkei rising slightly while South Korea’s Kospi declined.
read moreDeepSeek AI Faces Global Backlash Over Privacy and Security Concerns
Italy’s data protection authority, the Garante, has ordered the Chinese AI startup DeepSeek to cease operations in the country due to inadequate responses regarding its data collection practices. Despite being removed from local app stores, the app remains functional for users who previously downloaded it. Concerns over privacy and potential espionage have led to investigations by multiple countries, as DeepSeek’s low-cost AI model challenges established tech giants and raises national security alarms.
read moreBitcoin Bull Cycle Continues with Strong Institutional Demand and ETF Inflows
CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju asserts that Bitcoin’s bull cycle is far from over, bolstered by strong institutional demand and significant ETF inflows. Historical trends indicate that current price movements resemble past bull runs, suggesting potential for further gains, with analysts eyeing a target of $145,000 if Bitcoin surpasses the $110,000 resistance level. Key indicators show that the market has not yet reached overbought conditions, supporting the outlook for continued price appreciation.
read moreUpbit Lists Virtuals Protocol with New Trading Pairs and Solana Integration
Upbit has listed Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL), enabling trading with KRW, BTC, and USDT, which led to a nearly 28% price surge. Despite this, the protocol faces challenges, including a significant drop in daily revenue from $1.58 million to $21,927 and a recent smart contract flaw that was quickly addressed by the development team. Virtuals Protocol is also integrating with Solana to enhance transaction efficiency and support cross-chain operations.
read morePi Network Extends Grace Period Amid User Frustration and Growing Popularity
Pi Network has extended its Grace Period for KYC verifications and mainnet migration to February 28, 2025, amid ongoing frustrations over delays and the absence of a native token. Despite skepticism, the platform continues to grow, particularly in Asia, with significant user adoption in countries like South Korea and India.
read moreAsian Markets Rise Following Wall Street Gains Amid Tech Earnings
Asian markets mostly rose on Friday, buoyed by Wall Street gains led by Tesla, IBM, and Meta Platforms following strong profit reports. Japan’s core inflation hit 2.5%, prompting potential interest rate hikes, while the unemployment rate fell to 2.4%. In South Korea, the Kospi dropped 1.4% amid concerns over AI developments from DeepSeek, impacting major tech stocks.
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