📬 Inbox Dump #16

Hello Defiers! Welcome to Inbox Dump where we include the updates and announcements that flood our DMs each week and didn’t make it to The Defiant’s content platforms. Sometimes announcements here didn’t meet the bar to become a news story, sometimes they may have slipped through the cracks, or they came late and we haven’t had a chance to cover.

At The Defiant we cover the most important DeFi-related news and developments but I know many of you are hunting for projects before they are fully developed and before they are newsworthy. Our goal with this installment of the newsletter is to help you find them. Look at this as the starting point to DYOR.

We also include a compilation of DeFi and crypto funding rounds in the past week so you have these in one handy place.

Keep in mind these have been unedited. With that —here we go!

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Inbox Dump!

✉️ EPIK PRIME PARTNERS WITH GAMELOFT FOR BRANDS TO LAUNCH EXCLUSIVE, IN-GAME NFT TOURNAMENT

Asphalt Gamers Will Compete for an Array of Limited-Edition Digital Collectibles

Singapore – July 6, 2021 –Epik Prime, connecting brands and digital platforms to offer immersive digital experiences, announces today an exclusive partnership whereby Gameloft will launch its first ever NFT activation powered by Epik Prime for an in-game tournament on Asphalt 9: Legends, the latest game in the Asphalt racing franchise, which recently crossed the 1 billion download mark across the series.

✉️ Immunefi to support Binance Smart Chain for Bug Bounty Programs

Singapore, July 9 — Immunefi, the leading bug bounty and security services platform for DeFi protecting over $25 billion in users’ funds, will support Binance Smart Chain (BSC) to comprehensively enhance the security posture of projects building on top of BSC. Leading BSC projects such as PancakeSwap, C.R.E.A.M. Finance, Zapper, ApeSwap, PantherSwap, PancakeBunny, DODO, and more are already using Immunefi for bug bounties.

✉️ Avelacom partners with LDA Technologies to cut network hardware latency

Further reductions in latency sets new benchmarks for ultra-low latency wireless market data feeds from exchanges

RALEIGH, NC, United States – 07 July 2021 – Avelacom, the low latency connectivity, IT infrastructure and data solutions provider for global financial markets, is partnering with LDA Technologies, the leading vendor of ultra-low latency FPGA products, to deploy FPGA-enabled devices across its network, further reducing latency and enabling high frequency, algorithmic trading firms to improve their trading performance.

✉️ YIELD APP LAUNCHES DEFI BITCOIN FUND, GIVES USERS UP TO 12% APY

DeFi wealth management platform now allows users to earn up to 12% APY on the world’s biggest cryptocurrency

ESTONIA — JULY 8, 2021 — YIELD App, the decentralized finance (DeFi) wealth management platform bridging traditional and digital finance, is pleased to announce the launch of its Bitcoin Fund, allowing users to earn high-interest returns on the world’s biggest cryptocurrency, Bitcoin (BTC). This will consist of a base annual percentage yield (APY) of 6% on BTC with a further 6% available in YLD rewards.*

✉️ MEW Releases Version 6 Upgrade Making Ethereum Access Easier Than Ever

Easy DApp integrations and scalability solutions bring the best of Ethereum to users

Los Angeles, July 8, 2021 – MyEtherWallet (MEW), the leading platform to access the Ethereum ecosystem, today announced the release of MEW 6 - a milestone upgrade to the original Ethereum wallet interface. With this new update to the MEW platform, users will be able to interact with the Ethereum blockchain with less friction and more integration to every aspect of Ethereum.

✉️ KNOWN ORIGIN, ILLUMINO, AND BEAR NFT TO CO-HOST “TO THE MOON” MUSIC & ART FESTIVAL IN DECENTRALAND ON JULY 11TH

The full day event, beginning at 8:00pm UTC, will feature performances and NFT drops by electronic music artists including Ookay, SNBRN, Fred Thurst aka Dr. Fresch, Autograf, Win and Woo and a live broadcast from Autograf’s studio in Los Angeles

(Los Angeles) -- As part of the official Decentraland Art Week, NFT marketplace KnownOrigin, respected for its collaborations with NFT artists Sabet and Gary Cartlidge, has partnered with NFT curator Illumino and Metaverse & creative agency BEAR NFT to produce the “TO THE MOON” Music & Art Festival at 8:00pm UTC on Sunday July 11, 2021. The event will feature musical performances by noted electronic music acts including Ookay, SNBRN, Fred Thurst aka Dr. Fresch, Autograf, and Win and Woo, and will be broadcast live from Autograf’s studio in Los Angeles into Decentraland at the KnownOrigin Headquarters (located at 58, 94).

✉️ MATTEREUM SELLS 350,000 YEAR OLD HAND AXE, A DALI, AND TIBETAN BUDDHIST STATUE AS REAL WORLD ASSET NFTS

7 JULY 2021 – London-based tech firm Mattereum has today announced the acquisition of three rare cultural artefacts that will be vaulted, passported and tokenized using the Mattereum Protocol.

✉️ BGIN Announces Third Virtual Conference

From June 29 to July 1, 2021,BGIN will convene its third global conference on the future of blockchain development and governance. The online conference brings together multi-stakeholders in blockchain technology ecosystems to provide an open and neutral sphere for stakeholders to collaborate on issues they face. This virtual event will feature keynotes, panels, and open discussions by and for thought leaders across sectors, including entrepreneurs, software engineers, industry leaders, legislators, regulators, academics, and civil society.

✉️ Roll Onboards Fireblocks to Increase Security for Social Money

Fireblocks integration to bring advanced features and protection

to the Roll platform to prepare for the growth of social token ecosystem

NEW YORK — Roll (https://tryroll.com/), a platform that enables the issuance and distribution of ‘social money’, announced today that it has integrated Fireblocks to secure the new social money launching on Roll. By utilizing Fireblocks’ unique MPC-based wallet infrastructure, all ERC20 social money minted on the Roll platform will be protected with the highest level of security. Roll will also be adding $30 million in insurance for its creator community that’s launching social money.

✉️ Yearn Finance Launches Bug Bounty Program On Immunefi Platform

Singapore, July 1 — Yearn Finance, a group of products managing over $3.75B of capital that allow users to optimize their earnings on crypto assets through lending and trading services, today announces it has launched its bounty program with Immunefi, the leading bug bounty and security services platform DeFi protecting over $25 billion in users’ funds.

✉️ Synapse Network to Develop First Cross-Chain Cryptocurrency Investment Ecosystem

Partners in the Synapse Network include Black Dragon, Dutch Crypto Investors, Moonwhale, Chainlink, OIG, ICO HUB, Crypto Weekly, Minted Lab and CSP DAO.

London 1st July 2021: Cross-blockchain technology specialist Synapse Network is developing the first cross-chain investment ecosystem based on blockchain technology. It will offer five cross-chain products for the cryptocurrency sector, including a cross-chain DEX and DeFi marketplace, a chain agnostic launchpad bringing together projects and private investors to enable investment opportunities in early-stage startups, and an accelerator and incubator for startups and entrepreneurs, where ideas are converted into working projects. There will also be an Investment Syndicate of trusted and reliable VC funds, business angels, tech partners, private investors and blockchain projects, providing fast-track access to capital, technology and partnerships.

✉️ WazirX Partners With TRM Labs to Deploy Leading Crypto Compliance Platform

India's Largest Exchange Reinforces a Commitment to Risk Management and Compliance

San Francisco, July 1, 2021 -- WazirX, India's largest cryptocurrency exchange, has announced their collaboration with TRM Labs, a leading blockchain analytics provider, to enhance anti-money laundering and anti-fraud measures for transactions conducted on the WazirX platform.

✉️ Synapse Network to Develop First Cross-Chain Cryptocurrency Investment Ecosystem

Partners in the Synapse Network include Black Dragon, Dutch Crypto Investors, Moonwhale, Chainlink, OIG, ICO HUB, Crypto Weekly, Minted Lab and CSP DAO.

London 1st July 2021: Cross-blockchain technology specialist Synapse Network is developing the first cross-chain investment ecosystem based on blockchain technology. It will offer five cross-chain products for the cryptocurrency sector, including a cross-chain DEX and DeFi marketplace, a chain agnostic launchpad bringing together projects and private investors to enable investment opportunities in early-stage startups, and an accelerator and incubator for startups and entrepreneurs, where ideas are converted into working projects. There will also be an Investment Syndicate of trusted and reliable VC funds, business angels, tech partners, private investors and blockchain projects, providing fast-track access to capital, technology and partnerships.

Funding

💰Solana’s Solrise Finance Closes $3.4M Funding Round

Solrise Finance (Solrise), a Solana-based asset management protocol, has secured $3.4 million in a funding round.

Some of DeFi’s top venture capital funds participated in the round, including Alameda Research, CMS Holdings, Delphi Digital, Jump Capital, ParaFi Capital, DeFi Alliance, Reciprocal Ventures, and Skyvision Capital.

💰DeFi Protocol Tranchess Raises $1.5M in Seed Round Led by Three Arrows, Spartan

Tranchess Protocol, a chess-themed decentralized finance (DeFi) asset management platform, has raised $1.5 million in a seed round of funding that was led by Three Arrows Capital and Spartan Group.

Other notable investors include Binance Labs, Longhash Ventures, IMO Ventures and key opinion leaders who wish to remain anonymous, according to a press release on Monday.

💰DeFi Aggregator Zerion Raises $8.2M in Funding Round

Zerion, an Ethereum-based investment aggregator and portfolio manager, has raised $8.2 million in a Series A funding round.

The investment round was led by London-based venture capital firm Mosaic Ventures, with participation from Digital Currency Group, Blockchain.com Ventures, Lightspeed, Placeholder, and others.

💰Crypto asset manager Valkyrie raises $10M in Series A round

Digital asset manager and Bitcoin (BTC) ETF proponent Valkyrie Investments recently concluded a $10 million Series A funding round, once again highlighting growing investor interest in crypto-focused firms.

In addition to Charlie Lee, who is a well-known entrepreneur in the cryptocurrency industry, the funding round also saw participation from XBTO, BTC Media, UTXO Management, Consolidated Trading and 10X Capital. Interestingly, former Major League Baseball pitcher CJ Wilson was also among the investors, as was Tron founder Justin Sun.

💰NFT Oasis Raises $4.4 Million in First Funding Round to Combine NFTs with DeFi and VR

Announced Thursday, top NFT marketplace, NFT Oasis, completed a $4.4 million funding round led by 32 core investors including Leminscap, CitizenX Crypto Ventures, FlamingoDAO, and ID theory. The funding aims to boost the creation of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) by combining DeFi and VR giving artists “more creative freedom, business control, and financial success,” the statement reads.

Other investors in this round include Delphi Digital INFINFT and gmoneyNFT, Intellectus Partners, Koji Capital, Mechanism Capital, OzoneX, Stateless Ventures, The LAO, and Brad Stephens, Managing Partner at Blockchain Capital.

💰Crypto Insurance Platform Coincover Raises $9.2M as Big Firms Seek Safety

Cryptocurrency insurance platform Coincover raised $9.2 million in a Series A funding round led by Element Ventures.

Also participating in the round announced Thursday were DRW Venture Capital, CMT Digital, Avon Ventures, Valor Equity Partners, FinTech Collective, Susquehanna Private Equity Investments, Volt Capital and the founding investors, Insurtech Gateway Fund and Development Bank of Wales.

💰Cardiff-based Coincove has raised $9.2m in a new funding round led by Element Ventures.

Coincover, a platform providing protection and insurance-backed guarantees for cryptocurrency investors, has raised $9.2m in Series A funding. Element Ventures led the round, along with participation from DRW Venture Capital, CMT Digital, Avon Ventures, Valor Equity Partners, FinTech Collective, “Susquehanna Private Equity Investments, LLLP”, Volt Capital and the founding investors, Insurtech Gateway Fund and The Development Bank of Wales

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